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How to get people to ignore your Tesla Model S

In a crowdfunding campaign that seems destined to fail (only $5 have been raised of a $25,000 target after two weeks), we find a master class in getting people to not care about a Tesla Model S. In short, you add a new look to a car that a lot of people think doesn't need one, apparently. Koncept Cars, a San Jose, California startup, wants to design and build "high-performance electric vehicles," according to the IndieGoGo page, which claims that the company's first project is the Koncept S Coupe. Of course, Koncept Cars isn't building the car at all, yet, it's just changing the look. Koncept Cars is asking for $25,000 in order to, "fabricate a front bumper mold, a rear bumper mold, and production of the first run of carbon fiber bumper sets." Should the next 18 days really turn around and a $50,000 level get reached, then Koncept Cars, "will be able to acquire an early model, pre-owned Model S for the coupe conversion." Long-term, Koncept Cars hopes to offer the Koncept S, "as a build package for Model S owners" and the company hopes to one day, "deliver a line of EVs that can charge through Tesla's global Supercharger network." Don't go looking for more at the Koncept Cars website because it is, well, a bit lacking. You can see more in the video below, where something appears to attack a Model S with some sort of Marvel comic ice blast. Hey, why not? This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.

Dealers' suit against Tesla dismissed in MA court

Tesla has been facing resistance from dealer associations with its factory-owned dealerships since the start-up automaker first started selling cars, but it won another big case in Massachusetts when a judge dismissed a lawsuit brought on by the Massachusetts State Automobile Dealers Association (MSADA). According to Automotive News, the case was dismissed after the judge said the association "lacked standing to sue" despite the fact that MSADA executive vice president quotes the state law as saying, "A factory cannot own a store."
The latest lawsuit follows a similar suit from back in October where the MSADA attempted to prevent Tesla from opening a store in a suburban Boston mall; the electric car maker received approval to open another store in Natick, MA, which brought on this second lawsuit. It's unlikely this is the last we've heard about this issue in Massachusetts and in other states, but Tesla seems to be coming out victorious in each case so far. While laws pertaining to dealerships vary state to state, factory-owned dealers are usually noncompliant with state law - a lesson Chrysler learned back in 2011.

Musk reports positive cash flow for Tesla last week

According to Bloomberg, Tesla actually earned money last week. CEO Elon Musk sent out a message on Twitter saying his company was "narrowly cash positive." That's big news for a company that hasn't turned a quarterly profit as of yet. Tesla is currently in the middle of stepping up production for its Model S sedan, and has announced the vehicle's MSRP will jump by $2,500, presumably to help fund that expansion.
So far, Tesla says it has built will build around 20,000 Model S units at its California production facility next year, though analysts say the ability to repeatedly generate a positive cash flow would go a long way toward the company's evolution into a "sustainable operating entry." So far, the Model S has garnered substantive praise, earning the Motor Trend Car of the Year Award among others. Tesla shares are up 19 percent this year over the same time period in 2011.