High-End Electric Car Maker Tesla Eyeing Peabody For Dealership

PEABODY, MA -- Tesla Inc., the maker of high-end, electric cars that was founded by billionaire Elon Musk, is ap[plying for a special permit to open a dealership in Peabody. Peabody-based attorney David Ankeles will appear before city council on behalf of Tesla. The company is seeking to open a dealership at the North Shore Mall.

No further information was available on the application. Ankeles could not immediately be reached for comment and a spokesperson for Tesla declined comment. Tesla held an event last month at the mall. Unlike traditional car makers, Tesla typically operates "galleries" to sell its. In Massachusetts, it has galleries at the Prudential Center in Boston and Legacy Place in Dedham.

Last month Tesla passed the 300,000 vehicles produced milestone. While the owners currently have to wait on a waiting list to pay more than six figures for a Tesla, Musk envisions the company someday operating as an independent car maker offering a line of models across a wide range of price points.

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Photo by Tesla.

Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).