A developer of Tesla Collision Centers has shown interest in two locations in Jacksonville for facilities to repair the electric vehicles manufactured and sold by the Austin, Texas-based carmaker.
In two requests, 6S Development of Dallas asked Jacksonville utility JEA to determine the service availability for sites in North and Southwest Jacksonville.
On Jan. 11, 6S Development requested a service availability determination for the “6S T Jacksonville FL” project at 6655 Blanding Blvd., a 3.76-acre property for sale with structures on-site that can be used for office, retail and storage.
“This lot is just down the road from multiple luxury car dealerships including BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Lexus,” says the project summary by listing agent Prime Realty.
The JEA application does not identify Tesla but describes the project. It says the applicant is “looking to build” a 36,000-square-foot collision center.
North Jacksonville site
In October 2023, 6S Development asked JEA for the service availability for “6S T Jacksonville FL” at 11721 Houle Road in North Jacksonville.
The application describes the project as a “Potential TESLA Center,” but is not specified as a collision center.
JEA issued the availability letter, describing the utility connection points, Oct. 18.
The almost 2.25-acre property is a single-family site, built in 1965, at southwest Interstate 295 and Pulaski Road. Houle Road is on the west side of the property.
Property records show it has a commercial land use designation and is zoned Commercial Community/General-2.
JEA says that many companies submit service availability requests for multiple properties as part of the site selection process. The applicants do not necessarily notify the property owner, and applications do not mean negotiations are taking place.
Tesla sells and services cars at its new 45,200-square-foot sales, delivery and service center at 11650 Abess Blvd. in the Atlantic North shopping center in East Arlington.
The center faces Atlantic Boulevard west of Kernan Boulevard.
6S Development has not responded to emailed questions and a call asking for comment.
Tesla says its service centers can perform cosmetic repairs on parts including bumpers, trunks, side mirrors, wheels and glass.
Now in 19 states
Tesla Collision Centers are owned, trained and operated by Tesla Motors Inc. performing light collision work and full structural repair.
Tesla.com shows Tesla collision centers in 19 states.
There are four in Florida in Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Orlando and Tampa.
Tesla also lists “approved” and “preferred” third-party collision support centers.
It lists San Jose Collision in Jacksonville as a location.
Approved collision centers are independently owned and operated with Tesla-required training and tooling and can handle light collision work and full structural repair.
Tesla said preferred centers have the lowest rates for Tesla Insurance customers and the highest customer satisfaction of all Tesla-approved centers. Tesla offers Tesla Insurance in 12 states but not Florida, Tesla.com says.
Tesla says any body shop can apply to order parts from Tesla for light collision work, but are not eligible to buy the necessary parts for structural repair.
Tesla had operated a service center at 7818 Philips Highway before opening the Atlantic North operation in spring 2023.
6S Development, other sites
The 6S Development website – 6sdev.com – says the company specializes in build-to-suit and ground leases for commercial, public, industrial and multifamily projects. It also provides direct-leasing opportunities.
It says it implements and manages every phase and subsequent stage of development on behalf of landlords, tenants, clients and investors.
It says it has provided development services and construction management in 35 states.
The company uses both “6S” and “6s” in its content.
6S Real Estate Development also posts properties for sale.
Among those are six Tesla collision centers, which are leased by Tesla, listed for sale.
They include 6s T Riverdale UT LLC; 6S T Raleigh NC LLC; 6s T Plano TX LLC; 6s T Indy SSD IN LLC; 6S T Indy IN LLC; and 6s T Lenexa KS LLC.
They are priced from $12 million to $24.9 million with 10- to 12-year leases.
They appear to be new because their lease start dates with Tesla range from August 2023 to November 2024.
What to expect
A few recent collision centers show what to expect and the connection to 6S Development.
In August, Yahoo Finance reported that a Tesla sales, repair and maintenance facility is under construction off I-65 and County Line Road on the south side of Indianapolis.
It said developers filed plans with the city in 2021 to build the 37,000-square-foot facility. The project included rezoning a little less than 5 acres within a larger 18-acre plot along I-65 to allow for higher-intensity commercial use.
Florida-based Dunphy Development LLC sold the project to Dallas-based 6S Development in March, a Dunphy representative confirmed to IndyStar, which is the Indianapolis Star news site and paper.
A 6S developer declined to provide additional information to IndyStar, and Tesla did not respond to IndyStar’s request for comment.
The facility will focus on repair, maintenance and sales of Tesla vehicles and will offer several charging stations. The report said it will not replace the existing Tesla service center at Castleton Corner Drive in Indianapolis.
The site reported Tesla vehicles cannot be serviced by non-Tesla certified body or automotive shops, so having an additional service shop in the Central Indiana area will expand options and accessibility for owners seeking service.
In Texas, the state Department of Licensing and Regulation lists a 40,200-square-foot San Antonio Tesla Collision Center. Construction started in July 2022 with completion in June 2023 at a cost of $6.5 million.
The owner is 6S Development of Dallas.
In Kansas, JohnsonCountyPost.com reported in April 2022 that an auto repair site for Tesla was coming to Lenexa, Kansas.
The project, on 3 acres, comprises a 35,000-square-foot auto repair facility with fenced and gated outdoor parking as well as a storage area.
That site is in a business center just off Interstate 435.
The news site says the Tesla-owned facility will serve as an automotive collision repair shop and also will be used to recondition used Tesla vehicles to be shipped to dealers.
The site reported that Justin Hiegel of 6S Real Estate Development, a partner with Tesla Motors on the project, said the company identified Lenexa as a location to fill a gap in the market.