A former Stop & Shop location in Providence, RI, is expected to be transformed into a new Tesla service center and showroom. The upcoming facility is poised to become one of the largest Tesla locations in the area.
The impending arrival of the Tesla hub was announced by Paolino Properties, which owns the complex. The upcoming Tesla retail location will employ approximately 30 full-time staff.
Tesla’s first store in Rhode Island opened its doors in Warwick in July 2019. Tesla stores in nearby states are in Norwell, Dedham and Natick, MA, and Milford, CT, as noted in a report from The Providence Journal.
Per Rhode Island Energy, there are currently about 500 EV charging stations in the state. Tesla has deployed its rapid charging system, the Supercharger Network, at various locations in the state as well.
Unlike traditional automakers that use a franchised dealership system, Tesla directly sells its vehicles to consumers. Initially, there were legal questions about this method in Rhode Island, but attorneys for the Division of Motor Vehicles confirmed its legality.
Following California’s lead, Rhode Island passed new emissions regulations banning the sale of gas-powered vehicles by 2035. Massachusetts, New York, Maryland, New Jersey, Oregon and Washington have also joined the initiative to phase out gas-powered vehicles by the same year.
