Designed from its inception as an electric vehicle, the Model S is benchmarked against the biggest selling models in the executive segment and offers a range of up to 265 miles from the battery under the cabin floor. Tesla Motors has had more than 10,000 orders to date, including a 150-vehicle order from Athlon Car Lease in Europe, and anticipates building 20,000 vehicles before the end of 2013.

The manufacturer is establishing a growing network of dealers in the United States and across Europe, and anticipates European-market deliveries to start in early 2013, followed by Asia in mid-2013.

Elon Musk, Tesla Motors co-founder, CEO and Chief Product Architect, said: ‘In 2009, we set out to build the most innovative car of the 21st century, and since then have dedicated ourselves to developing and testing Model S to ensure that under any situation, Model S never disappoints.

‘Today we achieved our goal with an exceptional car that we believe sets a new standard for efficiency, safety, style, technology, operating cost and performance.’