Tesla to build new dealership, convert existing facility in Burbank

Electric car manufacturer Tesla Motors Inc. will soon have a new facility in Burbank where customers can order and pick up new vehicles, and it will be located less than a block away from its current showroom.

The Burbank Planning Board voted unanimously on Monday to allow Tesla to construct the new dealership and vehicle-delivery center at 633 S. San Fernando Blvd., which is next to the IKEA Burbank store.

The current facility at 811 S. San Fernando Blvd., which opened in 2015 to be a showroom and service center for the manufacturer, will remain and be repurposed to solely handle repairs and alterations, said Matthew Galbraith, an assistant planner with the city.

The new facility, which will replace a flooring retail store and a film school, will include a 5,050-square-foot sales floor and a 9,250-square-foot indoor vehicle pick-up area. The site will also have 21 vehicle spaces for customer and employee parking.

As part of the project, Tesla will replace the sidewalk and install trees and landscaping along the East Cedar Avenue side of the facility.

Galbraith said the hours of operation will be from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., with peak vehicle sales expected on evenings and weekends, and vehicle deliveries being done daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

He added that some residents expressed concerns about the new showroom and delivery center, which mainly focused on traffic around the area when vehicle deliveries were being made.

Tesla representative Angie Prowse told the Planning Board the company’s approach to vehicle sales is different than a standard dealership. Rather than have numerous vehicles on-site for customers to choose from, Tesla allows its customers to custom order their vehicle and have it either delivered directly to their home or to the showroom.

Prowse added that the new facility is at most expected to deliver 45 vehicles to customers a week.

anthonyclark.carpio@latimes.com

Twitter: @acocarpio