Tesla Increases Warranty Towing Distance To 500 Miles

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I’m fully charged, no tow needed, thanks!

Tesla is working to find the perfect balance between customer service, price, and value, with the latest iteration in the journey being an increase in towing range to 500 miles. This is exceptional and likely related to the relatively poor coverage Tesla Service Centers provide in most regions, leaving gaps of hundreds of miles between customers and their nearest Service Centers.

This new burst of towing range exceeds the maximum range of a Tesla at ~290 miles, so would presumably allow the customer to get the car home or, more likely, to the nearest Tesla center for some TLC. It is worth noting that this increase is for warranty work, not for normal service appointments, which is where pain related to distance from a service center would cause the most pain.

I have had to utilize the Tesla warranty on my CPO Tesla once so far and went with a “Ranger” — where a Tesla service technician actually comes to wherever I am — at home, work, or Barnes & Noble — with everything required for a diagnosis and repair. While the service technician was working on the problem door handle, he recommended that I have the other door handle mechanisms replaced, which I will be doing next week with the Tesla Valet Service — where Tesla will come pick up my car and drop off a loaner until my car is ready to go.

Back to the towing, the increased free towing mileage solidifies yet another option for Tesla owners to utilize to get warranty work done and, possibly more importantly, gives regulators extra confidence that Tesla is not leaving buyers out in the cold when it comes to broken down Teslas post-purchase. Consumer protection was one of the arguments used in Indiana where legislators (with significant prodding by General Motors, which was represented by a FUD-slinging lawyer at the hearing) were looking to shut down the Tesla direct-to-consumer sales model this week.

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Images by Kyle Field


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Kyle Field

I'm a tech geek passionately in search of actionable ways to reduce the negative impact my life has on the planet, save money and reduce stress. Live intentionally, make conscious decisions, love more, act responsibly, play. The more you know, the less you need. As an activist investor, Kyle owns long term holdings in Tesla, Lightning eMotors, Arcimoto, and SolarEdge.

Kyle Field has 1654 posts and counting. See all posts by Kyle Field