Apparently, some alarms were raised regarding the enduring quality of the Tesla Model S, so Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk has announced a little change to the warranty coverage.
Even we covered this story here, a short discussion on how hard it is to make it as an automaker these days, and initial and enduring quality is a major factor impacting new car purchases. Still, Tesla Model S is an exceptional vehicle, pretty much across the board, so it makes us wonder, are there any lingering teething problems with this relatively new automaker?
Between Consumer Reports and Edmunds, two fairly unbiased independent product testing and reviews companies, as well as numerous consumers, some surprising issues have surfaced, with door handles, battery drain, battery packs, drive units, charging issues, to name a few. While these problems haven’t been the norm, and most are resolved quickly, Tesla Model S is one of the best-supported automobiles on the market. Perhaps in an effort to allay these concerns for current and future buyers of the Tesla Model S 85 kWh, the most popular variant, Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk has announced a change to the warranty period.
Starting from the first Tesla Model S 85 kWh sold to all future models sold, with no limit on the number of warranty claims, the drive unit will now carry the same warranty period as the battery pack, up to eight years, unlimited mileage. That means that, for eight years, the entire powertrain is covered by the warranty, up to 310 kW of 3Φ AC induction motor carrying the same warranty as the 85 kWh lithium-ion battery pack.
Elon Musk did acknowledge that the warranty extension could have “a moderately negative effect” on short term Tesla Motors earnings. On the other hand, providing a powertrain warranty like this is certain to drive future sales. Short term earnings may suffer a tiny bit, but the rewards, especially with upcoming Model X and Model 3 debuts, will certainly pay off in future sales. Way to go Mr. Musk!
Photo credit: oskay
