Q&A: Does Tesla Franchise in the UK?

Becky Martin, writer

Published at 28/06/2019, Updated on 04/05/2022 , Reading time: 5 min

Q&A: Does Tesla Franchise in the UK? — Photo © tesla-logo-2003-2500x2500.jpg

If you’re interested in starting your own car franchise, you might be wondering whether Tesla offers investment opportunities. In this article, we take a closer look at the business and other similar franchises.

Tesla is an American company that operates in the automotive and energy industries. It specialises in creating vehicles that can be powered with renewable energy, such as solar panels, solar roof tiles and Powerwall and Powerpack batteries. Let’s learn more about the business and whether there are Tesla franchise opportunities.

This is a business that is leading the way when it comes to living sustainably. Customers can benefit from the network of ‘superchargers’ and ‘destination chargers’ in convenient locations across the globe. Tesla also sells energy products that charge your car and power your home. For example, whilst solar panels produce clean energy during daylight, the Powerwall stores energy to provide power at night.

Tesla appreciates that cost is a significant factor when choosing a vehicle, which is why it built the Tesla Model 3 – its cheapest car yet. The company is keen to make sure its products are accessible to a wide range of customers so it can help contribute to a rise in global clean energy production and use.

>> Read more:

Successful Franchises: Seven Steps To Promote Your Business
Traits of a Successful Franchisee
How To Achieve The Right Mind Set To Be A Successful Franchisee
Top 5 Habits of Successful Franchisees
How self-confidence can equal success for franchisees
Traits of an entrepreneur

History of Tesla

Tesla was founded in 2003 as the brainchild of a group of engineers who wanted to make their mark in the electric car industry. Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning set out to prove that electric vehicles could be faster and more efficient than petrol or diesel-powered vehicles.

Today, the brand’s overarching goal is to lead our global shift towards sustainable energy. Tesla is a firm believer that the sooner the human race stops relying on fossil fuels and starts moving towards a zero-emission society, the better.

One way it’s doing this is educating consumers. Unlike regular car dealerships, Tesla stores aren’t just there to sell, sell, sell. Instead, they exist to allow potential customers to see the vehicles up close and ask any questions. Employees are there to educate rather than provide lengthy sales pitches.

Does Tesla franchise?

Sadly, there aren’t any Tesla franchise opportunities at the moment. The automotive company chooses to sell directly to customers and avoid operating like a traditional car dealership – which is why it sets up Tesla stores rather than conventional car dealerships.

How to get involved with Tesla

As with any car brand, you have the choice to join Tesla as an employee. Tesla makes all its vehicles at its factory in Fremont, California, and maintains high employee safety standards. To ensure its factories are safe for staff, Tesla requires production employees to attend a multi-day training programme before they start. On top of this, the company provides training on the job and tracks performance rigorously so employees can progress rapidly.

>> Read more:

The automotive sector in the UK

You don’t need to be an automotive expert to know that cars are big business in the UK. Most people own a car and use it regularly. For this reason, businesses that sell cars are generally considered to be ‘recession-proof’, as consumers will always need to replace their cars – and many treat this as a priority.

In fact, there are over 32 million cars on our roads and 823,000 people employed in the sector. This generates more than £18.6 billion for the UK economy. It goes without saying, then, that this sector holds plenty of potential for ambitious entrepreneurs.

Did you know? The automotive sector generates more than £18.6 billion for the UK economy.

Similar franchise opportunities

As we’ve established, there aren’t any Tesla franchise opportunities. However, if you’re keen to get involved in the automotive industry, there are plenty of other car sales franchises that are looking for business-minded investors. Take a look below.

1. Ford

Ford operates the largest franchise network of all the car manufacturers in the UK. It has over 400 franchised car dealerships across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Becoming a Ford franchisee: All franchisees have access to the largest UK vehicle park in the country. Ford offers six different franchise opportunities that are targeted at different market sectors. By completing the franchise application form on Ford’s website, you’ll have the chance to become a successful franchise partner.

2. Volkswagen

Volkswagen first emerged in the UK in 1952, with the sale of two models of its signature Beetle. Today, it’s the UK’s largest vehicle importer and employs more than 1,800 people across the country. Volkswagen dealerships are owned by a number of regional franchise groups that operate several dealerships in their local areas.

Becoming a Volkswagen franchisee: The Volkswagen business is built on the shoulders of its hard-working franchisees. There are 250 of them across the country that are delivering high-quality German engineering to a large market. To get involved, write an application letter and send it to the address listed on Volkswagen’s retailer webpage. The automotive business should get back to you within two weeks.

3. Hyundai

Hyundai has been selling cars since 1967. It was founded in South Korea and has expanded globally over the years. In 2010 and 2011, it was labelled the fastest growing car brand in the world by Interbrand.

Becoming a Hyundai franchisee: Hyundai offers a conventional car dealership franchise package that gives franchisees the opportunity to sell new and used Hyundai vehicles in a specific territory. Evans Halshaw is just one of Hyundai’s franchise groups. He’s an example of how ambitious franchisees can grow to capitalise on local demand, as it owns four different Hyundai dealerships based in Newcastle, Gateshead, Leeds and Harrogate.

Join the automotive industry today

These highly successful franchises should give you lots to think about. But, if none of these businesses are quite right for you, there are plenty of other options in the automotive industry. This is a huge field; you could, for example, choose to start a car rental firm,automotive repair business or car wash service. There are also many other potential franchise opportnities in the car & automotive industry.