Tesla Revs Up for Promenade Opening

The new Tesla Third Street Promenade store—the first electric car dealership to premiere on the promenade—opens for business Friday.

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As Tesla employees spent Thursday preparing for the opening, crowds gathered to snap photos of the showrrom, which is sandwiched between and near Wilshire Boulevard.

A city ordinance limits the number of cars that can be displayed, so the focus is on educating customers about Tesla's new line of electric cars, said Christina Ra, senior manager of communications for Tesla. 

The store's main interactive feature is a large, high-definition touch screen that answers questions such as, "how far can I go in an electric car?" and "how long does charging take?" Product specialists are also on hand to answer questions about the new technology.

Stores just like the one on the promenade are opening up in the malls of major cities across the United States.

"Malls have high foot traffic and passersby are relaxed, so they usually have time to come in and engage with the features of the store," Ra said.

The store's grand opening is 10 a.m. Friday.

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