LONDON -- Telefonica today announced an agreement with Tesla, the world’s leading electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer, to provide Machine-To-Machine (M2M) connectivity for the Tesla Model S in Europe. Telefonica and its M2M World Alliance partners will provide connectivity for Model S across multiple countries in Europe, including in Germany and the United Kingdom on Telefonica’s O2 network, in Spain on Movistar, and in the Netherlands on KPN.

Telefónica’s global M2M solution - powered by Jasper - will enable connectivity for Tesla’s industry-leading in-car infotainment telematics including navigation, online music, and internet browsing, and remote vehicle diagnostics that relay information about the car’s safety, security and performance to the driver and Tesla service in real time.

The Tesla Model S, an award winning five-door sedan, was launched in 2012, with deliveries beginning in Europe in 2013. Its state of the art features include remote driver support and a connected infotainment control centre. The 17 inch touchscreen puts rich content at the fingertips of drivers and passengers, seamlessly integrating media, navigation, communications, cabin controls and vehicle data.

The agreement, which establishes Telefonica as Tesla’s largest European connectivity partner, is supported by KPN in the Netherlands and Belgium as part of the M2M World Alliance, simplifying Tesla’s deployment of connected cars.

Telefónica SA (NYSE: TEF)