The Model 3 is going to level up Tesla’s game in many ways, with the first and foremost being the lower price point. Bringing a Tesla to market that is on par with the average sales price of a new car in the US changes everything and truly opens up the brand to the mass market for the first time in its existence.
100 new service centers, 1,400 new technicians, 350 new mobile service trucks — that’s the Tesla plan to expand its service capabilities to satisfy the needs of its customers as it begins production of the Model 3, its first mass-market car — or so it hopes.
Tesla says it will be selling 500,000 cars a year soon. The odds are good that with all those Teslas running around, some of them are going to find solid objects to run into, causing dings and dents — or worse — that will need to be repaired. Until now, Tesla has required anyone who wants to be certified in Tesla auto body repairs be trained by the company at its dedicated facilities in California. But that means there simply won’t be enough qualified repair personnel to meet the needs of Tesla customers.
In what was likely the most anticipated earnings call ever for Tesla, the auto manufacturer / stationary storage manufacturer / full service solar provider / soon-to-be taxi service / autonomous vehicle technology company (and maybe insurance company in the near future) shared financial results for Q4 2016 and for the full year. Perhaps more importantly, it also unpacked tons of detail for what’s to come in the balance of 2017 and beyond.
Having owned the beast for a year now, I took some time to step back to think about what it’s been like to own a Tesla Model S as compared to our 85 mile range Mercedes B-Class Electric Drive — as well as what ownership is like compared to more conventional gasmobiles.
Kyle and Matthew decided to sneak around behind my back and do a Cleantech Talk episode without me recently… (no, actually, I was just off in India presenting at an institutional investment conference at the time). Incidentally, this episode focused on an investing option (green bonds for retail investors), as … [continued]
The Tesla Model S is the undeniable leader in mass-produced electric vehicles (EV) when it comes to the magic trifecta of range, charging speed, and service, but one question haunts many prospective Tesla buyers — what in the world is included in the optional and expensive annual maintenance plan? With the … [continued]
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 … [continued]
I recently picked up a Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) Tesla Model S (part 1 and part 2 of that story), and in the first month, drove it across the US, gave the Supercharging network a serious workout, and have already converted a few new EV enthusiasts along the way. Unfortunately, in … [continued]
Originally published on EV Obsession I recently purchased a Tesla Model S and one of the only things I have had an issue with is the door handles not triggering the door to open every time. With handles that don’t mechanically open the door, they are essentially just sensors that … [continued]
