Auto & News: Hong Kong Tesla Model S First Delivery Event!!!

Let's rock!
Image from Locky's English Playground

Last night was Tesla's Model S First Delivery Event in Hong Kong -- invitation only. A group of Tesla Motors Club Hong Kong members and myself first met up at Telford Starbucks before taking the coach to Kai Tak Cruise Terminal.

Getting a non-alcoholic drink with new friends
Image from Locky's English Playground

Never had I used an internet nickname to make friends online and then eventually got to meet up. The self-introduction as you can guess, involved unveiling our nicknames, which was a pretty intriguing experience.

The Sign and the EV
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After some minutes of terribly meandering rides on the coach, we finally arrived at the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal and was welcomed by a dark grey Tesla Model S demo car.

Front-facing
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To get a better simulation of what it will look like under bright daylight, here's an overexposed photo of it. Possibly due to its variable colour under different lighting, the Transport Department has moved to block any future orders of such grey Model S, so for those who have ordered this colour in Hong Kong, your car has immediately become limited edition.

Selfie of me and demo Model S
Image from Locky's English Playground

Feels good to have my own VIP card
Image from Locky's English Playground

Upon entering the event hall, everyone was asked to provide their registered name and phone number to collect their VIP pass.

Panorama of the event hall
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After that, it was mingling time! I took the opportunity to capture some photos, including the panorama above, a panoramic video below,

The stage
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a photo of the stage with the silhouette of a car and some early attendees drinking their wine/orange juice and eating finger-food,

Alex Fong, the Hong Kong actor
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and a snapshot of Mr. Alex Fong, a renowned Hong Kong actor, who was quite apparently one of the first ten Model S customers in Hong Kong to receive their cars at the event. FYI, he was surrounded by seas of ladies asking for photos all night. There were other celebrities and models judging by their appearance, but I am afraid I do not know any of them.

Group photo, one and only group
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There was quite a bit of delay for the event but we wasted no time in entertaining ourselves. And because we have a great leader, we managed to take the only group photo of the night for the entire event!

Soon after that, we were told to leave the hall and out to the open.

There were 3 more Model S and a fake supercharger for attendees to play around with. After that, Tesla's Vice President, World Wide Sales and Service Jerome Guillen gave the opening speech,

followed by a customer called Mr. Dennis Low/ Lo to give a 5-minute (script-reading) speech, and then the first ten customers were presented with their car keys.

Of course, Mr. Alex Fong was again the only one I could recognise. It is worth mentioning that few people actually clapped their hands while these ten customers got their hands on their car keys. The reason is obvious, because everybody else has waited just as long for their cars and we are still waiting. It was kind of hard for us to congratulate them.

First 8 customers to collect their Model S in HK
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After all car keys had been presented, and a group photo taken, it was time to see their cars!

Everyone rushed forward to catch a glimpse of the first 8 Model S in Hong Kong, of course, most people went to see the famous actor's.

Alex Fong's Model S, license plate blurred for privacy purpose

Image from Locky's English Playground

Soon the staff told everyone to return to the event hall for the closing,

and as the white Model S was unveiled, all programmes also ended.

White P85+ Model S

Image from Locky's English Playground

How come it sounds so boring? Well because it was in fact quite boring. No laser, no mist, no light show, no fireworks. What was fun about the event was really the interactions with fellow future owners and the chances to play with the cars as much as you like! Great cars and awesome people spiced things up, not the event itself. 

Here's an excellent timelapse by DITB, you can see me at 0:32.

The girls who served food and drinks though, were quite pretty! I doubt that they work for Tesla though.

I posed in front of a fake supercharger and a real Model S
Image from Locky's English Playground

There are some great news after all, and that is the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal superchargers and the Wanchai Hopewell superchargers are both up and running! So a practically empty battery Model S can now be charged up to 80% in 40 minutes and up to 100% in 75 minutes!

Supercharging time
Image from Tesla Motors

What's more, since Tesla EVs get 6 hours free parking at Hopewell, I just need to go yum cha in Wanchai and by the time I pick up my car, the battery will have gone from 0% to 100%, and I need not pay a single dollar!!! Gotta thank Tesla and Hopewell for that!

A photo of the steering wheel and the 17" display
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From another angle
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Me again, but not my car
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By the time we all left the venue, each one of us got a Tesla umbrella as souvenir, which is a very nice touch, but why are cars always related to umbrellas? 

Home sweet home
Image from Locky's English Playground

The post-event activity was an enjoyable dinner with some fellow future owners at California Pizza Kitchen at MegaBox. It is so nice to have made so many new friends in one day! I'm sure we will have more fun together when we all get our hands on our own Model S.

--- Updated on 28th July, 2014 ---

The official video is out and I appeared twice!!!

Resources:
Auto & News: Hong Kong Tesla Model S Official Deliveries!!! @ Locky's English Playground
http://lockyep.blogspot.com/2014/07/auto-news-hong-kong-tesla-model-s.html

Hong Kong Tesla Model S First Delivery Event -- Part 1 @ YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxbTs1EXukw

Hong Kong Tesla Model S First Delivery Event -- Part 2 @ YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TsXhdKVdWs

Hong Kong Tesla Model S First Delivery Event -- Part 3 @ YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGAvllgqK-U

Hong Kong Tesla Model S First Delivery Event -- Part 4 @ YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nEfYgOyI-SA

Hong Kong Tesla Model S First Delivery Event -- Part 5 @ YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HyoTyg-8pdk

Hong Kong Tesla Model S First Delivery Event -- Part 6 @ YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XmsI43pmzZk

Kai Tak Cruise Terminal Supercharger @ Tesla Motors
http://www.teslamotors.com/supercharger/kaitakcruiseterminal

Hopewell Centre Supercharger @ Tesla Motors
http://www.teslamotors.com/supercharger/hopewellcentre

Tesla Model S First Delivery Event in Hong Kong @ YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGrWeFsf2eo

First Model S Deliveries in Hong Kong @ Tesla Motors
http://www.teslamotors.com/en_HK/blog/first-model-s-deliveries-hong-kong