Tesla eyes north Fort Worth for new location

According to an application filed with the city of Fort Worth, Tesla is proposing an electric vehicle service and sales center at 5812 North Freeway.

The details: The application stated the 53,491-square-foot facility will include a one-story building that will be used as a showroom, a vehicle preparation/service area and an ancillary office space. The project also proposes 407 total parking stalls, nine disabled parking stalls and three access points. The application did not state when construction might commence or be completed.

Standard servicing and repair of Tesla vehicles performed at the proposed facility would include:

• Software updates
• Tire balancing and replacement
• Replacement of bolt-on parts (e.g. window regulators, door handles, suspension components, bumpers, etc.)

The application stated in terms of the vehicle showroom, customers will be able to view displays of Tesla energy products, complete demonstration drives and explore Tesla vehicles out of this location during store hours. Customers will be able to take the delivery of their new car at this location by appointment only.

The backstory: Texas law prohibits manufacturers and distributors from selling a new motor vehicle directly to a customer. According to the company website, Tesla showrooms are only set up to help educate potential customers on its cars. Buyers must order their vehicle directly from the Tesla website.

“Our stores are designed to be informative and interactive in a delightful way and are simply unlike the traditional dealership with several hundred cars in inventory that a commissioned salesperson is tasked with selling,” Tesla CEO Elon Musk said in a blog post. “Our technology is different, our car is different and, as a result, our stores are intentionally different.”

If built, this facility will be Tesla’s second location in Fort Worth. The first store is located at 275 University Drive, just west of downtown Fort Worth.