It seems like only yesterday that Tesla announced their 500th Roadster was in the hands of a consumer and already they have come forth to make a similar announcement. First of all, Tesla’s CEO Elon Musik let us know that despite ‘not looking for any money’ his company was approached by a equity investment group, which includes Fjord Capital Partners, who managed to pump an additional $82.5 million into the company.

Added to that, Tesla has announced that they have delivered their 700th Roadster to 24 year old Lennart Henning who is reportedly a German law student. Congratulations to Tesla for their continued success, now all they need is a more consumer concision priced model and they’ll be on their way to the top.

Read (Bloomberg)

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Consumers may be shying away or are trying to avoid purchasing a new car and most likely, they are exhausting all means to try and improve their current vehicle in tow. April is National Car Care Month, the time of year to focus on taking better care of your second largest investment. Most motorists would like to add years of reliable life to their vehicle and, during these uncertain economic times, they are looking for the best value when it comes to auto repair, according to the Car Care Council.

“The economy is on everyone’s mind these days and National Car Care month is the perfect time to remind car owners that putting off vehicle maintenance now can lead to more extensive repairs down the road,” said Rich White, executive director, Car Care Council.

R.L. Polk & Co. recently reported that the median age of passenger cars in operation has increased to a record high of 9.4 years in 2008. “This trend, coupled with the current economic environment, has led motorists to seek affordable vehicle maintenance to keep their vehicles in safe working order,” said White. “Because value is on the minds of most Americans, many are turning to their local repair shop for maintenance and service.”

According to a study by the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association, vehicle repairs cost an average 34 percent more at new car dealerships than at independent repair shops, resulting in $11.7 billion in excess costs annually to consumers.

(Source) Press

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