Tesla Opens First Plant in the Netherlands
Source: Mashable
Tesla Motors opened an assembly plant in Tilburg, Netherlands, and delivered the first Tesla Model S vehicles to customers in the Netherlands, Belgium, France and Germany.
The 18,900 square meter facility will not produce the Model S from scratch; instead, it will receive the vehicles for final assembly and send them on their way across the continent.
To mark the occasion, first buyers from the Netherlands, Belgium, France and Germany showed up at the opening to receive their cars.
The car company chose Tilburg because of is proximity to the port of Rotterdam, as well as the high quality and availability of transportation options there.
Read more: http://mashable.com/2013/08/23/tesla-netherlands
= new reply since forum marked as read
It's just that people expect to see a grill in front of a car.
Look at the fake grill on the Chevy Volt.
Model S buyers have actually expressed distaste for the transparent plastic grille and made requests for a fake one on the forums.
You may be talking about the grille-like nature of the metal behind the plastic: http://www.flickr.com/photos/niallkennedy/3433439574/in/set-72157616646220006/
But I think that serves a functional purpose (and looks nice). You don't want a solid piece of metal there so that if you hit something it crumples. It probably could be changed but I don't see a non-functioning fake grille there.
They could go with their original concept car.
It still has that upper gap to be symmetrical with the (required) lower gap. But it's nice.
But sure, I get what you mean now. I tried doing a mockup of the Model S without a front circular thing there, it could look nice, but I suck at photoshop. I think the "grille" has become a place for car makers to put their logos so I don't see it going away any time soon.
Also, there's this thread here that discusses Model S nose cones. Apparently it does serve as a significant cooling feature for the car.
According to that poll your sentiment isn't without merit.
and that Colorado, North Carolina and Virginia want to do the same.
It has to do with franchise laws. Saturn also had set prices for their vehicle. I know because I bought one—it turned out to be a very good car. 
I'm not sure if Tesla's approach is the same.
http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/nightline-fix-abc-news/why-texas-bans-sale-tesla-cars-140842349.html
A customer at my work has a Tesla Model S.
I've been for a ride in it. It's an unbelievably bad ass car. Breathtaking acceleration (the electric motor doesn't shift, doesn't need to, all that torque). Amazing inside. The entire console is a giant touch screen that controls everything, you can even look at live diagnostics and telemetry from the car. It's a gorgeous piece of technology. I would buy one in a heartbeat if I could afford it.
And I love how the door handles tuck in when you put the car in gear. 
