Tesla Contemplates Model S EV Derivatives

MENLO PARK, CA – Tesla Motors Inc.’s Model S sedan could serve as the foundation for a widely expanded all-electric product lineup, ranging from a 4-seat convertible to a commercial van, the auto maker says.

Such aspirations, combined with aggressive manufacturing plans, are the latest rejoinder to critics who claim the fledgling auto maker is doomed to fail because the industry is so competitive and its technology is unproven in the marketplace.

Tesla is “looking at ...