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Tesla opens its Model S electric car factory

On Wednesday, Tesla CEO Elon Musk and California Senator Diane Feinstein stood before the New United Motor Manufacturing, Inc. (NUMMI) plant, shuttered since April, and announced its new beginning as the base for Tesla Model S production. The press conference was capped by the unveiling of a large Tesla sign over the plant.

Tesla Vice President for Manufacturing Gilbert Passin conducted a tour through the parts of the factory that will host production lines for the Model S. Passin boasted that acquiring NUMMI was a huge cost savings for Tesla, as building a new plant would cost hundreds of millions of dollars. Toyota sold the plant to Tesla for $42 million.
Tesla factory

See photos of the new Tesla factory.
(Credit: James Martin/CNET)

Passin also pointed out that Tesla has been able to purchase equipment on site that will be useful for Model S production, ranging from simple carts all the way up to massive presses for stamping out steel body parts. As most body panels on the Model S will be aluminum, Tesla had to buy and transport a massive hydraulic press from a Detroit tier one automotive supplier.

Although NUMMI covers 5.5 million square feet, Tesla will only use about 20 percent of that space, mothballing the remaining 80 percent until it needs to expand production.

The south area of the facility, designated for the Model S assembly line, is mostly open space now. Passin and a crew of 70 Tesla employees on site are working to put in place the machines and processes that will be required for Model S production.

Tesla expects to start production of the Model S in 2012. The sleek four door premium sedan will have an all-electric drivetrain, a range of 300 miles, and seating for five adults, plus two children. It is the first car Tesla will be building from the ground up.

Kareena abandons her size zero figure

Kareena Kapoor has a penchant to grab the spotlight, for all the things she does (and sometimes doesn’t). While the nation has not yet forgotten the size-zero figure made popular by her, the news is doing rounds that she is trying to put on weight for the last couple of months for her forthcoming films.

Buzz up!
While this may come across as a bad news for all, who tried their best to get rid of the extra kilos in an attempt to emulate Kareena Kapoor, the sexy Bollywood lass has decided that it is time to bring back her own plumper self again.


When questioned by the media on the sudden change in her statistics, Kareena Kapoor laughed away saying that little did she expect that her weight would one day become a national issue. She added that it is her way of pleasing her fans, who prefer the slightly fatter Kareena.

Bebo has just turned 30, and with it has also completed a decade in the industry. A combination of hits and flops, Kareena Kapoor’s career graph has surely been an eyesore for many of her peers. Currently shooting for partner Saif Ali Khan’s venture Agent Vinod, Kareena rules out getting back to her size-zero status even for Karan Johar’s Short Term Shaadi.

Kareena hates comparisons

Kareena Kapoor does not like comparisons-be it with Aishwarya Rai Bachchan or anybody else. Bebo recently appeared on the reality show Sa Re Ga Ma with the Golmaal 3 team to promote the Diwali release. She talked at length about her daredevil stunts in the film without a hitch. But when the journalists asked her how she felt about Ash-starrer Action Replayy, which is also releasing on Diwali, Bebo bluntly told the reporters: "Keep your questions about Golmaal 3 only. I don't want to make any comparisons. This has nothing to do with our film."

But she had no problem boasting about her daredevil stunts in the film. "It was a tough call but I wanted to push myself. Rohit Shetty (director) gave me the confidence and I was able to do the stunt on top of a moving car only because he was driving it," she said.

Kareena and Aamir to come together

Kareena Kapoor and Aamir Khan to shoot ads for same brand of vehicles

Post 3 Idiots, Kareena Kapoor and Aamir Khan will come together... for a two-wheeler brand. The two will be seen in separate advertisements, though.

Bebo will seen riding a scooterette in the ad film. No prizes for guessing, it's the same brand as the one she rode, in the Rajkumar Hirani flick.





Only for the screen

Says an insider, "The actress had learned to ride a bike for a film, and will also be seen on one in Golmaal 3. While she is quite comfortable on a two-wheeler, she never does so off-screen."

Fresh concept

The actress admits, "It's the same brand I rode in 3 Idiots, and it is aimed at girls. The concept is light, young and fresh for college- goers.

Aamir will shoot for the scooters for men. I love scooterettes and bikes. I used to ride them in Goa during my Golmaal 3 shoot, but I can't do that here in Mumbai."

Pradeep Sarkar will helm the ad while Bebo's favourite designer Manish Malhotra will style her. The commercial will be shot on a busy street in Mumbai.