Developed in California and about to begin production in right hand drive, the Model S launches Tesla into the large executive segment, and sales are expected to be fleet-heavy in the UK due to favourable Benefit in Kind taxation for user-choosers compared to a conventionally-powered alternative.

Prices start at £50,280 for the entry-level model, with a 60kWh battery and 240-mile range on the NEDC test cycle. The 85kWh battery, which offers a 310-mile range, will be priced at £57,680 in 362bhp form, while the 416bhp P85 model costs £69,080.

Significantly, all three will be available with access to Telsa’s planned Supercharger network, which will offer free lifetime access to rapid charging on key motorway routes. By the end of next year, Tesla says it will have complete coverage of the UK.

Speaking at the launch of its retail store in the Westfield Shopping Centre in London, Tesla Motors’ co-founder and CEO, Elon Musk, said: “Tesla is taking the UK market very seriously, and there are more stores and service centres to come. We’re also going to establish a Supercharger network so Model S customers will be able to drive long distances anywhere in the UK using our network for free, forever.

‘The first Supercharger will be energised next quarter and we’ll aspire to have the entire country covered by end of next year. Most importantly, we are hard at work with Right Hand Drive Model S, and we aim to deliver the first one by the end of March 2014.’