Sonsini joins Tesla board

Tesla Motors, the Silicon Valley electric car maker, has added prominent attorney Larry Sonsini to its board of directors. Sonsini, chairman of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati in Palo Alto, specializes in taking companies public.

"Larry Sonsini has played a role in building and advising some of the most successful companies in existence today," Elon Musk, Tesla's chairman, said in a statement this week. "His guidance will be invaluable."

The company also announced that Laurie Yoler is leaving its board.

It has been a busy few months for Tesla. In February, the company delivered its first production car to Musk, who has invested $50 million in the company. The zero-emissions, two-seat Roadster sells for about $100,000. In March, Tesla said it had started regular production at its British factory, although it wasn't until May 5 that it confirmed (on a company blog) that it had delivered a second production model.

In April, Tesla said it would start selling its Roadster in Europe. Later that month, it filed suit against rival Fisker Automotive saying the company's chief had stolen trade secrets while under contract to Tesla. Chief Executive Henrik Fisker denies the charges.

Two weeks ago, the company opened its first dealership in Santa Monica. It intends to open a showroom in Menlo Park in late June or early July.