Forum Topic

former Tesla showroom acquired

The former Tesla showroom on the Hogarth roundabout has been acquired by a Chinese car maker that plan to use it. Does anyone have any knowledge on the rental & other costs like council tax etc on such a prime commercial location on the Hogarth roundabout? I bet Tesla moved because of the costs in renting and running this property.

Carl Johns ● 3d10 Comments

UK passenger car annual output actually peaked in 2016 at 1.7million units and has more than halved since. The 'just in time' system used by manufacturers doesn't function properly outside the Single Market. This is less of an issue for electric cars because there are fewer parts so the strategy may be try to rebuild by OEM assembly plants but these jobs will be less skilled and there will obviously be less related employment in parts manufacture.

Andrew OSullivan ● 1d

"I didn't mean to be flippant about Brexit but Patrick Minford's warning that the domestic car industry would disappear may be partially about to come true." Much of it was closed down during the years we were members of the EU.

Richard Greenhough ● 2d

Looks like it will be a sales but no after sales operation to supplement a digital effort so as has been pointed out 'a glorified billboard' but, as I say, I would be surprise if the Chinese hadn't recognised the symbolic importance of the site. I didn't mean to be flippant about Brexit but Patrick Minford's warning that the domestic car industry would disappear may be partially about to come true. Perhaps the government is thinking a part replacement can be made by assembling OEM Chinese cars in plants in this country. The news today about Honda and Nissan points to manufacturers realising things are going to get very messy for them and this may actually be an example of the UK being ahead of the curve.

Andrew OSullivan ● 2d

Absolutely correct, I looked on it as a glorified billboard with a few cars in it. There is zero chance that I will buy an Omoda as we approach 2025 it is one of the most fuel inefficient internal combustion engine vehicles on the road with high pollution and low MPG. The electric version, heavily subsidized by the Chinese government, does not appeal either

N V Brooks ● 2d

If the benefit of Brexit is Chinese manufacturers using your own country as a base to destroy your indigenous manufacturers  then i suppose it's a success.The reality is the entire Chinese car industry is state sponsored and subsidised to establish it as a global player at everyone else's expense.The Chiswick roundabout site wont make money but that's not its purpose as it's part of a long term plan to create awareness generate market share.

Craig David Mcdowell ● 2d

It may be a mistake to think of the building as a "prime commercial location".It will have zero footfall from passers by so the only people visiting will be those who really want to, or need to.If you look at other Tesla locations in the UK, a large proportion are in retail centres (Westfield, Lakeside, etc) and there is a Tesla service centre off the A40 in Park Royal so possibly no need for 2 in close proximity.

Michael Robinson ● 2d

And don’t forget that Vice President Trump has full confidence in President Musk. Time will tell if Musk continues to have confidence in Vice President Trump.

Steve Taylor ● 2d

Musk has totally lost interest in the UK. He made that clear two years ago. Now he is throwing some pocket change at Farage so he may review his strategy in the future. The man is no fool. He is a genius.

Steve Taylor ● 2d

What I didn't realise until I read the article that the UK was one of the few economies in the world that allowed Chinese cars in tariff-free. It never made that much sense that Musk was going in so hard on Twitter on the UK and its government over free speech issues. It seems far more likely that he wants to pressure it to change the policy as nothing is a greater threat to Tesla that affordable electric vehicles. The taking over of the former Tesla garage is highly symbolic in this regard and probably not something that the Chinese will have failed to pick up on.  Much as I hate all that Brexit has done to this country, here at last is a clear benefit — it has allowed us to follow a policy that has seriously hacked off Elon Musk.

Andrew OSullivan ● 2d

Musk is the richest man in the world. I doubt the rent at the Hogarth Rndbt was too taxing

Paul Campbell ● 2d