Toyota Motor's recent $50 million investment in electric-car upstart Tesla Motors is already paying dividends. Tesla reportedly will ship two prototypes, based on Toyota's RAV4 sport utility vehicle and Lexus RX crossover, to the Japanese automaker later this month.
Tesla's electric cars have amazing acceleration, but the company's stock has been moving even faster since its IPO last week. It shot up 79% in its first two days, but has since fallen below the IPO price. Venture capitalists and cleantech startups are watching carefully.
Tesla Motors hopes to raise about $178 million in what would be the first IPO by an American auto company since 1956. The Palo Alto, Calif.-based electric car company plans to price its shares between $14 and $16, according to a Tuesday SEC filing.
