Tesla officials announced Friday that a new service center in Nesconset will open by the end of this year.
Tesla currently has another service center in Syosset, a store in Manhasset, two galleries in Huntington Station and East Hampton and two solar warehouses in Hauppauge and Bethpage.
“Tesla’s new service center in Smithtown will provide thousands of Long Island residents with convenient service for Tesla’s sustainable products,” the company said in a news release. “Proposed legislation would enable Tesla to also sell and deliver our products at this location, and allow for additional Tesla stores across New York, deepening our investment in the state.
“Smithtown is a promising market for sustainable energy products and Tesla is eager to meet that demand head on.”
According to the release, the Smithtown location will create at least 25 new jobs. This service center will be located in the former Sixth Avenue Electronics store at Route 347 and South Hillside Avenue, revitalizing a space that has been vacant for several years.
“It is exciting to see Tesla working with the Town of Smithtown to revitalize this long-vacant property and turn it into a positive that will benefit all who live in our region,” state Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan said. “Tesla’s commitment to this project will help create career opportunities for our residents, benefit the students who are gaining crucial experience and, in the long run, help protect the local environment. We welcome them to the area and wish them great success.”
Tesla will not be permitted to sell cars at the Smithtown service center because of an existing agreement with the state limiting the company to five direct sales facilities in New York.
The company, however, is supporting legislation co-sponsored by Assembly Majority Leader Joseph Morelle to increase the cap to 20 direct sales facilities.
Service centers are not included within the cap.
Representatives from Farmingdale State College President John Nader addressed the new job opportunities the service center will create for students and an ongoing internship program with Tesla.
The program, which began in fall 2017, provides students in the automotive technology department with the opportunity to work on Tesla’s zero-emissions vehicles and potentially gain full-time employment with the company after graduation.
“The opening of a new Tesla service center in Smithtown is great news for Long Island and for Farmingdale State College,” Nader said. “This location will give more of our automotive technology students the chance to put their talents to use and begin fulfilling careers with an innovative, industry-leading company.”
