Tesla

A new offering from Tesla Motors of a $850 million package of common stock and convertible senior notes will be used to completely prefund payoff of the Dept. of Energy loans, as well as general corporate purposes.

Tesla Motors lived up to their promise to reach profitability for Q1 2013, based on stronger than expected sales and manufacturing efficiency improvements.

After garnering criticism from the first version of the Model S financing program, Tesla Motors has tweaked the offering, giving even more guaranteed value.

Going against the Automobile Dealers Association, who is seeking to block Tesla's sales model around the country, a Houston area car dealer makes the case that Tesla should be allowed to sell cars directly to the public because it would increase consumer choice.

Tesla is fighting in several states for the right to sell its electric cars in the way it deems best, via direct sales to customers, while going against the traditional independent dealership system.

Tesla's sales model is incompatible with laws in some states, and Texas law is so restrictive that Musk had to step in personally to lobby the Texas Legislature in support of a law creating a narrow exception that would allow specifically defined electric car makers to sell cars direct to customers.

Whether the price for Tesla Motors stock has fallen or risen this week depends on how broad of a horizon one sees.

Mr. Musk promises a True Cost of Ownership of $500, but a close look reveals the price for even the most basic Model S is over a thousand per month even with an adjustment for not buying gas.