Giri Prakash has been driving his Tesla Model 3 since it arrived in March but has been without it the last four days or so while a safety restraint was fixed at the shop.

For a normal recall, the problem could be fixed locally. But Prakash had to have his car towed (at Tesla’s expense) across the state to Brentwood, nearly three hours away, to the closest Tesla shop. He expects to get it back by Thursday at the latest.

Next year, should another issue arise, life will be a little easier because, according to Tesla CEO Elon Musk, Prakash can just take it across town.

Musk revealed in a Tuesday morning tweet that a Knoxville service center location would be coming.

"We’re opening a lot of Tesla service centers next year, including Knoxville," Musk said in a tweet replying to a request for an East Tennessee location. "Tesla will post upcoming city opening map this week."

Musk's tweet comes after the $71 billion company announced 11 new store locations in California, Texas, Florida, New Jersey and in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Tesla-driving East Tennesseans currently have to go to the Atlanta or Nashville locations.

“I love it, it’s just an experience,” Prakash said about driving the car. “It’s been eight months that I haven’t had to stop at a gas station or stop for an oil change … .”

Prakash works at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, where he charges his car from a solar-powered charging station at work.

“I’m getting the purest energy. It’s just a really good feeling. I’m not burning anything or contributing anything (to the environment).”

Related:Tesla dealer may recharge Knoxville's West Town Mall

Jonathan Overly, director of the East TN Clean Fuels Coalition, welcomed the Tesla news.

“This will save them time as service is needed, but perhaps more importantly it will be an easy-to-find site where anyone can go learn about, test-drive and otherwise experience a Tesla. With prices headed for sub-$50,000 for a Tesla Model 3 next year, more families or individuals will be able see the product locally and see how an (electric vehicle) may work for them.”

The news would be a welcome change to East Tennesseans outside of Knoxville, too. Jason Bembry is a professor of Old Testament at Emmanuel Christian Seminary at Milligan College who lives in Johnson City.

Bembry was on an 18-month waiting list for his Model 3, and when it was ready he had to pick it up in Charlotte, North Carolina, a three-hour drive. Now, he said, he can take a ride to Knoxville in half the time.

Could a dealership be coming?

The idea of bringing a Telsa store to Knoxville's West Town Mall has been floated before, although Musk did not reveal specifics for the future location.

"We welcome Tesla's investment in our city and look forward to learning more details," Knoxville Mayor Madeline Rogero said in an emailed statement.

In a June MPC meeting, the electric-car maker's name was mentioned as a possible replacement for Sears, which had not yet announced plans to close its doors in West Town Mall. Four months later, four Knoxville-area locations were on the list of closings, including in the newly renovated mall.

At the time, Sears did not respond to questions, while Tesla declined to comment. No deal has officially been announced.