---
title: "Tesla to Open Tiny Showroom Inside a Nordstrom in Los Angeles"
description: "Wildly powerful electric vehicles? Between housewares and bedding, ma'am."
date: "2016-06-15"
modified: "2016-06-15"
authors:
  - name: "Ben Keeshin"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/ben-keeshin"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/4009/tesla-to-open-tiny-showroom-inside-a-nordstrom-in-los-angeles"
categories:
  - "News"
tags:
  - "Nordstrom"
  - "Tesla"
---

# Tesla to Open Tiny Showroom Inside a Nordstrom in Los Angeles

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/archive-images/061516-tesla-nordstrom-hero.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

In large swarths of the country, attempts by Elon Musk and [Tesla Motors](<https://www.teslamotors.com/>) to sell cars to customers directly—as opposed to the traditional American dealership model—have been stymied, a [victim of NADA-supported legislation](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/3336/lobbyists-torpedo-tesla-stores-in-connecticut>). Still, Tesla is making the most of its abilities in the states where it's allowed to peddle cars directly to buyers. The proof? On June 18, [the electric car company will be opening a mini-gallery inside of a Nordstrom department store](<https://www.fastcompany.com/3060932/now-available-in-aisle-t-tesla-plans-to-sell-its-electric-cars-in-nordstrom>) at [The Grove](<https://shop.nordstrom.com/st/nordstrom-the-grove>), Los Angeles's sprawling, ultra-luxurious mall. Dads across the L.A. region are likely hoping their pre-Father's Day shopping excursions will make it past the tie rack and cologne bar to the shiny display harboring [a Tesla Model X and its dreamy falcon doors](<https://www.thedrive.com/new-cars/2875/why-the-tesla-model-x-will-make-you-want-an-american-suv>).

The tiny Tesla showroom will be no larger than 400 square feet and aim for a "boutique feel," according to a statement by Nordstrom, yet will strive to offer a legitimate dealership experience, with a Model X demonstrator and a bevy of interchangeable interior panels and paint swatches. Test drives will be available—albeit in the parking lot, not directly through women's intimates.

Tesla will not yet have a site-specific sales license for the mini-showroom; interested buyers will have to drive to a licensed Tesla store to complete the sale. (Don't worry—there's a full-service dealership a mere five miles away.) All manner of loafers, however, will be available for immediate purchase by Nordstrom customers.

Besides the obvious promotional value, moves like the Nordstrom mini-store should help Tesla Motors to achieve [the 500,000 car sales goal Elon Musk pegged to 2018](<https://www.thedrive.com/new-cars/2881/tesla-likely-to-struggle-meeting-model-3-production-demands>). Right now, [the company has just 215 stores](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/2306/tesla-has-a-new-showroom-headed-to-brooklyn>), meaning each will need to sell a staggering 2,300-plus cars in the next two years. Until a nation-wide direct-sales model comes to bear, Tesla will have to use increasingly creative ways to get cars into customers' hands. In fact, *The Drive* can see plenty of value in future collaborations between the luxury automaker and similarly-aspirational brands. Could a bevy of Teslas parked under a frill of Lululemon exercise pants be next? You bet your [accidentally-visible ass](<https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2014/06/23/lululemon-still-suffering-from-sheer-pants-debacle-founder-in-warrior-pose/>).

## Author
Ben Keeshin is a former staff writer for Maxim, and before that, contributed writing to the digital sides of Road & Track and Vanity Fair.

### Author social links  
[Twitter](<https://twitter.com/BnKshn>)