SAN CARLOS, CA --- Tesla Motors Inc. said it has begun selling its electric cars in Canada and will begin delivering cars to Canadian customers in the fourth quarter.

Tesla sells highway-capable EVs in North America and Europe. The automaker's Roadster has a 0-to-60 mph acceleration of 3.9 seconds. Tesla will unveil its all-electric, zero-emission four-door sedan, the Model S, on March 26, and expects to begin selling that model in late 2011.

Tesla said it has delivered more than 200 cars to U.S. customers.

Canada and Norway are the only two countries worldwide where the majority of electricity comes from renewable resources, including run-of-river small hydro, wind, biomass, geothermal and solar energy. An electric vehicle recharged from the current Canadian grid, on average, would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by about 85 percent compared to an equivalent gasoline-powered vehicle. In hydro-dominant British Columbia, Quebec and Manitoba, the reduction would be an impressive 98 percent, Tesla said.

"As they have already for Americans and Europeans, we're certain Roadsters will quickly become the automobile of choice for Canadians who refuse to compromise between performance and the environment," said Tesla CEO Elon Musk. "We have heard from many enthusiastic Canadians over the years and are quite eager to sell there."

Initially, Tesla will deliver cars to Canadian customers through regional centers in Seattle and New York. These retail and service facilities will open in the first half of this year. Eventually, Tesla hopes to open facilities in Ontario, British Columbia and Quebec.

Canadian Roadsters will comply with all national and provincial safety regulations for mass-produced, highway-capable vehicles. The base price for Roadsters in Canada will be set closer to the start of deliveries, and pricing will reflect exchange rates at that time. In the United States, the base price is $109,000.