Tesla Quietly Killed Its $100 Flat-fee Home Service Program
Sometime this year, Tesla Motors quietly ended its Ranger program that would dispatch service technicians to fix or send for service Tesla cars for a flat rate, Automotive News reported.
The program, which was touted by the company in 2012 as “ transforming automotive service” said the service would cost $100 “regardless of how far away owners live from a Tesla Service Center.” Tesla’s service page now says: “Tesla Ranger service may be available in your area. Service begins at $100 per visit and increases based on your distance from the nearest Tesla service center.”
A four-year, prepaid service plan for the cars, which cost $2,400 and included unlimited Ranger service visits, now only costs $1,900 without mentioning Ranger service, according to the company. A spokesman for Tesla didn’t immediately comment on the report.
Tesla owners since the beginning of the year have posted on forums that the Ranger service plans were no longer being honored. (Emphasis theirs.)
I’ve actually started telling people not to buy Teslas if they live more than ~100 miles from a service center. Tesla apparently doesn’t want us as customers. I strongly recommend to people living in Ithaca that they should not buy Teslas until Tesla opens a service center in this area, or restores the previous cheap Ranger service.
According to the report, 91 percent of Tesla owners live within 50 miles of a service center.
Tesla does sell parts for its cars, but only publishes a limited service manual if you live in Massachusetts to figure out how to install those parts.
Tesla recommends a $600 annual service for its cars and sells an extended service agreement for $4,000 above the initial warranty.
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EBITDA is a bitch that endlessly demands more, more, more, more...
Just wait, the "free" supercharging and expansion of supercharging stations will go away too because let's face it, that's not sustainable either.
I wouldn't buy any new car that didn't have a service center nearby (as in, no further than the other side of town). That's the biggest reason I have never bought a MINI, the closest dealer is 120 miles away. The kid gloves level of service Tesla has been maintaining on their beta products is obviously unsustainable.
I think eventually (if not now), it will make sense for Tesla to start certifying high-end repair shops to conduct warranty work on their behalf. Such certification could include equipment and training. Note how dealers are still not strictly necessary in such an option. It is possible for Tesla to sell the car directly and have it serviced by third parties.