San Carlos-based Tesla Motors Inc. may be one step closer to opening a dealership in Newport Beach.
The city of Newport Beach has approved electric car repairs at an old Rolls-Royce building on Pacific Coast Highway.
The approval for repairs was one of the last hurdles for Tesla, which designs and makes electric sports cars that sell for about $100,000 or lease for $1,700 a month.
It’s the only street-legal electric car so far.
Patrick Alford, Newport Beach city planning manager, said he’s uncertain whether Tesla has signed a lease yet.
Tesla’s spokeswoman Khobi Brooklyn could not be reached for comment.
Tesla has 11 dealers in the U.S., including San Diego and Los Angeles.
The company has emerged as a primary rival to Irvine’s Fisker Automotive Inc., which has some hybrid cars in the works.
