By Justin Couture, MSN Autos

Though I’m hardly what you’d call a stats buff, I’ve always found figures interesting when it comes to car companies – especially those that are newcomers to Canada. To most manufacturers it’s a sad truth that we’re more of a 51st state than a completely different country, which is a shame given we’re more pragmatic and frugal when it comes to car shopping.

Which is why, I can’t help but be impressed with Tesla Motors’ progress. The California-based maker of boutique electric cars only officially set up shop here a bit more than a year ago. Despite the fact that it does without a retail store, and the only product it sells is a low-slung two-seat drop-top with a price tag of US$125,000 – distinctly not the sort of product that Canadians typically shop for – more than 50 of these all-electric sportsters have found homes across Canada.

By Jake Lingeman, AutoWeek

Tesla dropped some new photos of the Model S Alpha sedan on us today, and the car is looking more like a production vehicle every day.

The shots show a Tesla Model S in a shade of black sporting a new front fascia with a lower, sharper, more aggressive look. It includes some vents for possible brake or engine cooling purposes, along with the same 10-spoke fan-blade wheels as the concept car.

By Mark Rechtin, AutoWeek

At Tesla Motors Inc.'s first annual shareholders meeting since going public last July, Tesla CEO Elon Musk provided a vision of using the full capacity of the former New United Motor Manufacturing Inc. plant it acquired from Toyota.

He also discussed a string of electric vehicles and the possibility of a chain of company-owned charging stations and battery-swap facilities.

By Mark Atkinson, MSN Autos

Toyota and Tesla have been flirting with each other for a few months now. First came word that Tesla would be taking over Toyota’s share of the defunct NUMMI plant in California to build its upcoming Model S sedan, but there have been rumours flying about Toyota incorporating Tesla’s battery pack technology into its electrified vehicle strategy.

Official word came via Toyota, confirming that the two companies have agreed to develop an electric version of the RAV4 compact SUV. The plan is for Tesla to deliver prototypes to Toyota later this year for evaluation before hitting the U.S. market in 2012.

This is the first fruit of the agreement back in May to cooperate on a number of different areas including manufacturing and product expertise. Toyota’s aim is to learn from Tesla about “EV technology, daring spirit, quick decision-making and flexibility.” (No snickers please...)

Although most will have forgotten, this isn’t Toyota’s first crack at an electric RAV4 – the original RAV4 EV hit California streets around the same time as the GM EV1. However, because of its frumpy packaging, few remembered it over a decade on.

Hopefully Toyota will have better luck this time.

 By Mark Atkinson, MSN Autos

While information is still changing by the minute, it appears that three executives of American electric car maker Tesla were killed in a plane crash in Palo Alto, CA on Wednesday afternoon. Shortly after takeoff, a twin-engine Cessna crashed into some high-tension power lines, exploding and crashing into an East Palo Alto daycare. The pilot and two passengers were confirmed dead, but thankfully no one else was injured in the resulting damage.

Tesla confirmed that company CEO Elon Musk was not aboard, and the San Francisco Chronicle says that the plane belongs to Doug Bourn, a senior electrical engineer with the automaker, although police won't say whether Bourn was on the plane at the time.

By Justin Couture, Sympatico/MSN Autos

Following in the footsteps of its glamorous all-electric Roadster, Tesla has just unveiled its latest creation, the long-awaited Model S. 

Designed by ex-Mazda stylist Franz von Holzhausen, the Model S is a slick, streamlined five-door fastback. From the front, it looks a bit like Maserati’s six-figure Quattroporte sedan, particularly the shape and detailing of its grille and front fenders. From the rear, the Model S has a strong resemblance to Jaguar’s XF sedan, most notably its sweeping roofline, tail lights and the chrome trunk garnish. Turbine-style 21-inch alloy wheels and a full-length panoramic sunroof are also fitted. 

By Justin Couture, Sympatico/MSN Autos

It's official: you can now buy the Tesla Roadster in Canada.

Yesterday, the California-based purveyor of electric sports cars made the announcement that it would start selling its electric Roadster north of the 49th. Deliveries will start in late 2009.

For the time well being, the first customers will have to buy their vehicles through distributors in Seattle (for B.C. and other western provinces) or New York (Ontario, Quebec, and Maritime provinces) - plans for actual Canadian facilities will come at a later date, which is sure to make servicing the electric sports car a pain in the backside. Ontario, Quebec and B.C. are slated to get dealers or service points down the road.