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| Tesla Store in Knightsbridge, as Talulah and Elon meet and greet |
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Tesla Motors held a launch party at the new London Store in Knightsbridge last night. Top of the guestlist was company chief Elon Musk, who flew in specially for the event.
“He’s very good looking,” whispered my missus, politely. Annoyingly, I have to agree. He’s also made his millions many times over thanks to an internet business, and since branched out into electric sports cars and space rockets. Somewhere in his schedule he’s even found time to date young British movie actress Talulah Riley. Not bad going for a 37-year old.
“The US Department of Energy has just approved a loan to us of some half a billion dollars. Which was nice of them…” deadpanned Elon, to cheers from the throng. Not shy of his public profile, it was a typical statement from this occasionally controversial figure. Detractors have bashed Tesla from day one, arguing that Musk is a crazed egomaniac running a Ponzi scheme building this century’s Tucker Torpedo. It’s nonsense – the cars exist, the stores exist. Those grapes sour enough?
Conversely, I think Musk’s style and flamboyance are sorely needed to create interest in electric cars, which let’s face it are generally pretty uninspiring. We drove the Roadster last year, and as the Tesla rep handed me the keys, his words stuck with me: “You’ll enjoy this, it’s really a blast to drive.” Boyish glee pervades this company. And that’s a good thing.
