--- title: "Tesla Is Closing Its Dealerships to Only Sell Cars Online" description: "Tesla officially announced that it will close most of its physical dealerships except for a small number of stores \" in high-traffic locations.\"" date: "2019-03-01" modified: "2019-03-01" authors: - name: "Victor Tangermann" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/tesla-stores-close-online-only" categories: - "Advanced Transport" - "Tesla" tags: - "elon musk" - "Model 3" - "tesla" - "the digest" --- # Tesla Is Closing Its Dealerships to Only Sell Cars Online ![]() *\Image: Tesla\* ## Online Only Tesla is closing most of its physical stores, except for a small number in "high-traffic locations" that will serve as "showcases and Tesla information centers," according to an [official update](). The news comes alongside Tesla's announcement that the long-awaited [$35,000 Model 3]() is finally here. In order to dip the price that low, Tesla argues that it had to shift all of its sales to online only. ## Incoming Layoffs To make the move sound more appealing, Tesla promises that it's easier than ever to buy one of their cars. "You can now buy a Tesla in North America via your phone in about 1 minute," reads the update. Worldwide online sales will be available "soon." What isn't clear right now is how many Tesla employees will soon lose their jobs. In January, Tesla laid off [seven percent]() of its entire work force as a result of the company's efforts to streamline its finances. ## Looking Good Things have been looking good recently for the electric car company. Tesla was actually profitable in the second half of 2018 — although Musk [admitted yesterday]() that streak would likely be over by the end of the first quarter of this year. Tight margins aside, Tesla still has the daunting task of making fast and efficient deliveries a reality. As of right now, delivery times for a brand new Model 3 [vary significantly]() depending on your geographical location. **READ MORE:** [Tesla will close most of its stores and only sell cars online]() \[*The Verge*\] **More on Tesla:** *[Tesla Finally Slashes Model 3 Price to $35,000]()* ## Author I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()