Tesla Model S: The Mother Of All Product Launches

By Ryan Salomone:Tesla Motors, Inc (TSLA) is a designer and manufacturer of electric vehicles with enormous potential starting mid 2012 when it launches sales of its Model S. Many investors are shorting Tesla, electric vehicles, and green companies in general, however failures within the green industry will not be knocking on Tesla's door.

Two weeks and 600 miles ago, I took delivery of a 60-kWh 2013 Tesla Model S electric sport sedan.

Just a few days ago we warned of the surging incentives among auto makers - and the diminishing benefits of that margin compression. It seems GM, not to be outdone by its peers, has stepped up with a hefty $5,000 discount for the Chevy Volt with demand for electric vehicles (EV) low, and falling lower, and manufacturers desperate to try anything to try and increase sales.

Tesla has had a historic week. It began last Wednesday when it reported its first quarterly profit ever.  That was followed by Consumer Reports essentially calling it the best car ever when it gave it a score of 99/100. The stock's epic rally is continuing this afternoon.  Management just announced that it would take advantage of its high stock price to raise capital.

DETROIT/AUSTIN, Texas (Reuters) - Elon Musk, the chief executive of electric carmaker Tesla Motors Inc, criticized the traditional way of selling cars in the United States and indicated the model would hamper the 10-year-old U.S. automaker's growth prospects.

Leave it to Tesla Motors to turn what could have been a rather dull announcement about improving its service program into something of a mini-dazzler Friday. CEO Elon Musk not only promised to honor the company's 8-year battery warranty under pretty much all conditions -- "lighting the pack on fire with a blowtorch is not covered" -- but Tesla also rolled out a plan that allowed owners to upgrade to a top-of-the-line Model S anytime their car goes in for service.

The established German luxury brands — Mercedes-Benz and BMW — have sold cars in the US for decades. So how could Tesla Motors possibly be beating them at their own game?