Tesla Arrives In China Without A Chinese Name
Tesla Motors has finally arrived on the shores of China, even without a brand name, while still battling to get more retail stores in the US.
Reuters noted last week that the groundbreaking electric car manufacturer recently started taking online orders on its Chinese website, while opening a flagship store in Beijing.
Despite gaining a foothold in the emerging market country, Tesla does not yet have a Chinese brand name.
The reason: a local businessman has the registered trademark name “Te si la” and refuses to hand it over to Elon Musk and company.
Some suggestions popping up on Chinese social media web sites include “Te su la,” which in Chinese means “Happiness in boosting speed.” One supporter suggests it could be an easier name to sell as a trademark in China, while others disagree with this idea, citing it is too profane in Chinese culture.
Tesla has had success in getting into global markets in recent years. It has opened up retail locations in various countries including, Canada. However, for all of its success stories on the global retail front, it’s still fighting in the US to increase its store locations.
Tesla has had issues trying to get into the Minnesota retail vehicle market, to go along with its well very public fight in Texas. Other states have been a challenge as well. One blogger on the GM-Volt.com forum best summed up Tesla’s ongoing battles against US car manufacturers:
Pretty funny that Tesla can open a store in Beijing but not THE REPUBLIC OF TEXAS!! Thank you TADA and Texas Legislature! Ya maroons.
Hopefully 2014 will be the year Tesla will finally breaks ground in The Lone Star State and becomes bigger than ever.
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