Elon Musk’s Tesla-themed diner and drive-in movie theater gets approved in Los Angeles
Elon Musk’s Tesla has reportedly received approval to move forward with plans to build an all-night diner and drive-in movie theater in Hollywood.
The 1950s-style drive-in complex will serve as an all-night Tesla Supercharger station with 32 stalls, along with more traditional trappings, including a pair of giant movie screens that will show clips from classic movies and a restaurant with rooftop seating.
Tesla received permit approval from the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety earlier this month, according to the industry blog Teslarati, which obtained copies of the documents.
Tesla is currently planning to build the themed diner in Hollywood on W. Santa Monica Boulevard, according to the report. Musk had originally planned to place it in Santa Monica.
The most recent round of approvals was related to the initial grading inspection for Tesla’s planned complex, according to the site. Tesla had earlier received approval to build walls and movie screens in July.
Tesla provided the public with a sneak peek of its plans when it shared an official rendering during the company’s 2023 investor day last March. The presentation slide was titled, “Can’t forget to do cool s—t.”
Separately, architect Ed Howard has shared his own unaffiliated concept art on X showcasing how a Tesla diner and drive-in might look.
Musk has personally teased his concept for a Tesla drive-in for years on social media.
“Major new Supercharger station coming to Santa Monica soon! Hoping to have 50’s diner & 100 best movie clips playing too. Thanks Santa Monica city!” Musk tweeted in April 2021.
In 2018, Musk said he was “gonna put an old school drive-in, roller skates & rock restaurant at one of the new Tesla Supercharger locations in LA.”
“Of course. And an outdoor screen that plays a highlight reel of the best scenes in movie history,” he added.
Tesla has a network of more than 17,000 Supercharger stations in the US, including locations in all 50 states.
The diner will join a long list of novelty creations by Tesla, which often branches out beyond its purview of building electric vehicles.
The carmaker sells its own branded version of “Tesla Tequila” featuring a “dry fruit and light vanilla nose with a balanced cinnamon pepper finish,” according to its website.
The company also began selling a Cybertruck-themed cardboard cat bed to customers in China earlier this month.
Meanwhile, Tesla investors are anxiously awaiting news related to the release of the Cybertruck, which is set to debut this fall after years of delays.
