49-51 Cheval Place, London, England is to be the home of the first European Sales office for Tesla Motors this summer; right in the heart of Knightsbridge. Follow up stores in Germany and Monaco are on the cards.

“We expect that Tesla sales will eventually be split evenly between the US and Europe,” said Tesla CEO, Chairman and Product Architect Elon Musk. “Opening three Tesla stores in Europe this year is a critical part of that plan.”

There’s been no word yet of a ‘right-hand-drive’ version of the Roadster and Model S; in the UK motorists drive on the wrong side of the car. Left-hand drive cars imported from continental Europe suffer very poor residual sales values, not to mention being tricky to handle in overtaking maneuvers; requiring a passenger for safest passing!

London Mayor Boris Johnson, and Tesla fan said Wednesday he hoped to introduce 100,000 BEVs and to build 25,000 charging stations in the city of London. Prime Minister Gordon Brown – also familiar with Tesla – said EVs would be one cornerstone of his economic recovery plan.

To that end, Alistair Darling, UK Chancellor of the Exchequer is expected to announce a GBP2,000 incentive, grant or, tax break if you will in the upcoming Budget proposal. At current GBP/USD exchange rates that comes out at around $3000 US which compares poorly with the US equivalent tax break of $7,500.

One big difference between cottage industry and big business is the size and ambitions of the sales team, is this a stretch too far too early or evidence of a company that means business?