Tesla to set up in Barcelona

DESPITE the controversy concerning the possible secession of Catalonia from Spain, the California-based manufacturer of luxury electric cars, Tesla has without fanfare decided to open new headquarters in Barcelona from which it will distribute its cars and accessories within Spain.

This is considered to be something of a vote of confidence in the Catalan government although the decision has not actually been announced by the currently loss-making company but was spotted by eagle-eyed reporters when the registration of the new company Tesla Spain SL was spotted in the Official Bulletin of the Commercial Registry at the end of October.

The parent company has seen a great deal of interest in the development of the self-driving model of the car which is currently in development, but it does seem a considerable way from being completed and then accepted by US regulators before seeing its new models navigating Spanish roads, although hopefully the Spanish version will be able to recognise turning cars who don’t bother to indicate.

It is expected there will be showrooms in both Barcelona and Madrid which are considered the two most attractive markets for the electric cars.