North Carolina Startup Offers Tesla Model 3s To All Of Their Employees

Some office perks may include free coffee and bagels, but at one biotech startup company employees get a free Tesla car.

Practichem, based in Raleigh, North Carolina, has announced plans to reward each staffer with a Tesla Model 3, courtesy of their boss.  

The flashy electric sports car, that carries an estimated $35,000 price tag, will be doled out to current and future employees upon its expected 2017 release, the company said Thursday.

“We just announced it to the employees last night as they were leaving and said by the way you're going to be getting a Tesla,” company Press Director Ann Revell told The Huffington Post by phone.

Their reaction was "pretty remarkable,” she said. “They were like, 'Wow, I’ve never driven a car that's younger than 20 years old!'”

Justin Pritchard/AP

Practichem's CEO has said that they chose Tesla because the motor company shares their goal of positively impacting humanity.

The incentive behind the grand giveaway is to attract the best talent out there, Revell said.

“The whole point, one of the many points, was to make sure that they understand the value that they’re bringing to this organization,” she said of Practichem's employees.

Ideally, it'll also provide a little mental boost during their morning commute and get them "inspired when they get to the office," she said.

“I mean it’s not a toaster, right?” she laughed.

Practichem currently employs 10-15 people, Revell said. The company's core mission it to develop biological research tools to “cure humanity’s diseases,” according to the company website. That humanitarian focus is what led them to select Tesla, which designs all-electric vehicles.

“Our vision shares similarities with Tesla Motors; both companies positively impact humanity with real change,” Nick DeMarco, Practichem’s founder and CEO, said in a release. “People driven to solve big issues share core values. Many of our employees have marveled at Tesla’s approach. Their compelling all-electric vehicles drive us to make real change in our field.”

The vehicles, which are advertised as being able to travel 215 miles on a single electric charge, will be provided to employees while they’re working for the company. Reservations have already been made on the vehicles, Revell said.

And it's not too late to add to the orders: Revell is looking to expand the company. “We have 10 positions we need to fill, immediately,” she said.

H/T News Observer