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Apple’s head of mergers Adrian Perica is rumoured to have met with electric carmarker Tesla Motors prompting speculation about a potential acquisition and a move into the car making industry.

The San Francisco Chronicle cited a person familiar with the matter about the meeting between Tesla chief executive Elon Musk and Perica.

The news prompted a rise in Tesla shares to above $200 for the first time.

Both parties have declined to comment. However, Musk has said in the past that an acquisition of Tesla Motors could be a possible outcome for a cash rich buyer, but he was not prepared to step away from the business for “several years”.

Tesla UK

Tesla currently has one dealership in the UK at Westfield shopping centre in West London, which it owns and operates.

The London showroom features a single Model S electric saloon, design studio, as well as Tesla merchandise and clothes.

The showroom also features four large touchscreens which customers can use to spec their Tesla or learn more about the Model S. The showroom gets 15,000 walk-ins a week after opening in November 2013. The showroom is believed to have sold “hundreds” of the £50,000 Model S in the UK, but would not confirm exact figures.

Tesla delivered over 20,000 cars globally in 2013 and the brand is looking to open more showrooms like the one in West London this year.

The Tesla Model S features a tablet like 17-inch touch screen