Despite reports to the contrary, Telsa Motors says that it will not use any Ford running gear in its WhiteStar project all-electric four-door sedan. There have been several reports that suggested that Tesla’s WhiteStar project will use Ford’s CD3 platform as the basis for the sedan. The CD3 platform underpins the Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan, and Lincoln MKZ.

Tesla Motors has said that the company will not share platforms with any major automaker. “I can confirm that we used some Ford products on the Roadster, but to the notion that we would use an entire chassis, or body of a car, the answer is no,” said spokesman David Vespremi.

Telsa has said that it will not use another automaker’s platform for its larger volume products like the WhiteStar sedan. Telsa is “…going to operate as any other major car manufacturer… Our business model is to bring more capabilities in house and do more ourselves,” said Vespremi. The company plans to do business directly with the same suppliers that the major automakers use.

Tesla will break ground next month on a $35 million assembly facility in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The new production facility is expected to employ up to 400 workers and have the capacity to build thousands of all-electric sedans annually. Production will begin in 2009.

## Source: The Car Connection ##

Posted in: Manufacturing, Sedans/Saloons, Business, Electric, Future Vehicles, Tesla
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