Electric Vehicle Maker Tesla to Expand Procurements in Taiwan

Taipei, July 9, 2009 (CENS)--Tesla Motors, an electric vehicle maker in the United States, is expected to expand its order-placing to Taiwanese suppliers, according to industry sources.

Tesla Motors has received approval for about US$465 million in low-interest loans from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to accelerate the production of affordable, fuel-efficient electric vehicles. Taiwan's Industrial Development Bureau (IDB) of the Ministry of Economic Affairs plans to attract more investments from Tesla to the island.

The American vehicle maker set up an assembly plant in Taoyuan of northern Taiwan two years ago and purchases needed motors and controllers locally. After it won a loan from the U.S. government, Tesla's increasing production is expected to further raise its parts procurements from the island.

Tesla Motors purchases power controllers from local Delta Electronics, Inc. and Chroma ATE Inc., as well as motors from Gongin Precision Ind. Co., Ltd., Fukuta Elec. & Mach. Co., Ltd. etc.

Tesla Motors' Roadster is a high-end electric vehicle powered by lithium-ion batteries. Designed in Silicon Valley and assembled by Lotus in England, the Tesla Roadster is priced around US$100,000, making it the "Porsche in the electric vehicle line."