When Tesla began to offer vehicles to the masses with the Model S luxury sedan, lifetime free Supercharging was a huge selling point.
While these early owners of the original models will still receive this benefit, the program has changed and new owners don’t receive this at all. Yes, you can still buy a Tesla and enjoy the fact that you’re driving an electric vehicle from one of the most advanced companies in the market, but you won’t receive the benefits of a Supercharging program.
Another Reason to Avoid Buying a Tesla
Tesla has been in the business of offering us only electric vehicles to drive. Because of this, the Federal Tax Credit Program that offers $7,500 in tax credits for an electric vehicle purchase, is being phased out for Tesla owners. The program was always listed to have a limited number of models that were allowed to qualify for the full credit and Tesla reached that number in the early part of this year. Right now, customers are receiving half of this credit, and soon there won’t be a tax credit benefit offered for Tesla at all.
The Phasing Out Isn’t New
The early part of 2017 brought us the beginning of the phasing out of the free Supercharging program, which is now gone entirely. At first, the company offered 400 kWh of charging credit per year, which was supposed to be nearly enough for most Tesla owners, but it didn’t help if you wanted to take a road trip. In addition to phasing this program out the programs in place for referrals will also be reduced from offering unlimited access and unlimited charging, the program will now offer only six months of unlimited access to Supercharging, but not free charging.
What Does This Mean for the Future of Tesla?
Those customers who have been waiting for the Tesla Model 3 that was advertised to be the least expensive electric car on the market will be sorely disappointed. The original figures for this car factored in the $7,500 tax credit, which will be gone, and without the offer of free Supercharging, Tesla will be in a position to learn more about how many customers truly love their products and want to continue to purchase them for the future of driving that can be experienced on the road.
Will Tesla Pass the Test?
Will Tesla have the clout and the following to continue to be successful in the future? Once all orders are filled with the pre-orders of the Model 3, the free Supercharging program is gone, and the tax credit has been used up, will there be the same following that we see now for this company. That’s the test of the future. Until now, Tesla has offered customers a benefit that made it easier to choose the Model S or Model X, but the future could tell us a different story.
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