Tesla opens Alpharetta electric car store

Tesla Motors opens a retail center at the Avalon development in Alpharetta Friday. It’s the electric vehicle maker’s fourth Georgia store.

Unlike traditional auto dealerships, Tesla’s outlets generally don’t have sprawling lots or giant showrooms. From the outside, Tesla’s new north Fulton location looks much like Avalon’s other small storefronts, except that a Model S sedan is parked inside along with a display chassis.

Tesla had to battle Georgia dealers and win a change in state law to be allowed to continue selling vehicles directly to consumers, rather than going through independent dealerships as Georgia usually requires of car makers.