The Tesla Motors Gallery, in the NorthPark Mall, at 8080 North Central Expressway, brings Elon Musk’s electric vehicle concept to the Dallas area. The interactive Gallery does not sell cars, but serves as a place to educate consumers about these groundbreaking electric vehicles.

The 2,200-square-foot gallery lets consumers learn more about the California-based electric car company and even sit behind the wheel of a Tesla. Potential buyers will be able to talk with Tesla representatives, check out a Model S and see a cutaway version of the car that exposes its electric powertrain.

Tesla spokeswoman Alexis Georgeson says, “Because of state restrictions, the gallery employees will not be able to take orders, offer test drives or even discuss price with visitors.” Those rules make Texas one of just five states in which Tesla is completely forbidden from selling directly to consumers. To get a Tesla, Texans must order one of the electric cars online, take delivery from a third-party service and wait at least 48 hours before getting any help from Tesla with the car.

Although the process is onerous, Georgeson says there are still more than 2,000 Model S owners in the state. "Our galleries create strong awareness for our product. Other Tesla owners in Texas, of which there are nearly 2,000, help pick up the slack, too, some even offering test drives to strangers.”

In a new development, Tesla has relinquished many of it patents on their technology in a move to allow electric car design to become an open source font of information for the world to use. Musk states, “Tesla Motors was created to accelerate the advent of sustainable transport. If we clear a path to the creation of compelling electric vehicles, but then lay intellectual property landmines behind us to inhibit others, we are acting in a manner contrary to that goal. Tesla will not initiate patent lawsuits against anyone who, in good faith, wants to use our technology.”

For more information, visit TeslaMotors.com.