This story about Lexus expressing interest in the Tesla model has been making the rounds, and I think it's pretty interesting.

Lexus Sees Lots to Like in Tesla's Sales Method

Personally, I think it could be a great move to bring a couple of vehicles into a non-traditional retail space... Maybe as some kind of Intersect hybrid? A no-pressure environment that could pipe potential customers to the dealership to take things to the next level?

 

Yeah cause it couldn't have anything to do with the age of the 4LS..

 

Have you guys seen an actual Tesla store inside a mall? It's actually pretty neat. Caught me off guard when I walked passed one in Pentagon City mall in Va.

I thought it was like a gift shop for Tesla lol But imagine all three walls adorn with all examples of options the car can be fitted with, TV's showing the cars features, the entire set up almost like at an auto show how they would set up their area. What I loved the most was that the had an actual Model S and a body-less Model S.

Of course, you can talk to the representatives at the store in case you are really interested one.

 

I like the idea...

 

Nothing wrong with the idea, allows for more saturation of the market for people in the vicinity ie shopping malls and more locations to experience the brand.

The weirdness I found was in the statements made by Brian Smith

 

Dealerships don't have big food courts anyway.

I'm cool it being in a mall.

 

Anything that separates the sales and service functions is OK in my book.

 

I think it's smart....

how many times a year do you visit a dealership vs the mall. All those mall visits would give people plenty of opportunities to quickly walk in ....sit in a vehicle or two, and keep lexus on their radar.

If I was Lexus, I'd make sure I had a new gs350 f-sport somewhere in there. When people sit in it and see that interior....high odds it would be game over / done deal.

 

LOVE LOVE LOVE the Tesla model and the store in UTC mall in San Diego. They even have two cars in the parking garage for test drives. This is the way all cars should be sold. No more of these space sucking dealerships with a hundred models on the lot, just in time delivery right to your home just how you order it.

 

I would like to see Tesla succeed. If their battery factory takes off, it will be good for everyone.

 

"Space sucking" .....land sucking, dwarf star light blinding, Soil contaminated lot consuming dealership. There I'm sure more could be added. I drive by them every night and it blows me away the amount of energy they CONSUME when nobody is there. The lots are blasting with lights. (I get it to keep shifty people out and cameras on.) If malls can do as well a job, use less energy and have a better experience then why not.

 

This is not a new idea. When the Danbury (CT) Fair Mall opened in the mid 80s, there was a car dealer with space in the mall. And, did anyone see "The Blues Brothers"? "The new Oldsmobiles are in early this year."

 

Yup. Thinking the same also....

 

If Lexus does, it needs to create a very specific and custom experience for the customer.

The L-Select service in Japan would be a great addition in the U.S. to create an ultra-premium service.

 

YUP here in Canada you can't even order a red on red RC F even when that makes absolutely no sense for a C$ 90,000 vehicle