Tesla plans on launching all-electric city cars in 2010 in collaboration with several manufacturers, reports the UK’s Car Online. The experience and know-how Tesla gathered from the development of its Roadster (seen above) is playing out well in its mission to become more than just an independent car company—in fact, it appears Tesla will become something more like a Tier 1 supplier as well as a manufacturer.

The small city vehicles likely won’t be sold under the Tesla name, but will appear badged by those manufacturers with which the company has a partnership. It’s likely we’ll hear about Tesla’s role in the development of these vehicles, or perhaps see badging to that effect somewhere on them (or inside them). CAR reports that this new platform of small cars will have less in the way of range than Tesla’s own Roadster—227 miles when fully charged—and will be priced at a premium to other small vehicles.

It’s a busy time at Tesla. In addition to the recent launch of their Roadster, the company is hard at work on their “Model S ,” which has been described as either a sports sedan or a five-door hatchback.

+ CAR Magazine: Tesla to work with other brands