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03-23-2020, 12:42 PM | #1 |
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Tesla Removed "Optional" Features from Used Cars
Not sure if this has already been discussed here but, apparently, a number of reports say that Tesla has removed features (via Software Upgrade) like Autopilot and Ludicrous Mode from used Teslas after they were purchased by the owner who bought the car with those features.
Here's one from Motor Trend where Autopilot and Full Self Driving modes suddenly disappeared (without telling the owner). Here's another from Jalopnik (HERE and HERE) where as a result of an "audit" of the car subsequent to purchase of a used Tesla, features were removed because Tesla claimed they were not purchased by the used car buyer. There has apparently been no official response from Tesla as yet. If they can do this then this may be a kind of paradigm shift in used car buying where the buyer of a used car may have a car with different trim levels / features than the previous (original) owner. This essentially means that car options are purchased subscription-based that attaches with the owner rather than as products that attaches with the car. |
03-23-2020, 01:26 PM | #2 | ||
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My understanding of what's going suggests that this statement from the article does not properly characterize the situation:
Quote:
This quote reveals what appears to be what is actually going on: Quote:
If, on the other hand, Tesla adopts a policy to disable features that were explicitly included with the car at the time it was manufactured and sold to the original buyer, hoping to double-dip, that's criminal as far as I'm concerned. However, I don't see that that's what they are doing. And if they have done it, it appears not to be by act of adhering to company policy, but by error or simply by poor judgment on the part of specific employees of the company who should arguably be removed from their particular post. That's my take. |
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03-23-2020, 03:49 PM | #3 | ||||
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Quote:
The article said "point to a philosophy on Tesla’s part that believes" which is not a conclusion per se but rather it might point that way. The articles mentioned at least 3 cases of this going on and apparently there are more if you read the Tesla chat rooms. So the writer asked Tesla for clarification but so far (months later) have not received a reply. If it's as clear cut as your take suggests, then you'd think the Tesla would've responded to them by now. Quote:
Jalopnik did say: "Based on these reports and others, it certainly seems that Tesla feels that options like Autopilot and FSD and Ludicrous Mode are tied to the owner of the car that paid for them, not the car itself," so they "reached out to Tesla for some clarification, but received no responses back." That was in January and still no response? If these were all mistakes by Tesla it would be a simple response back saying so, but nothing so far according to Jalopnik. This may point to (again, not a conclusion) that there may be something more. I'm not making any judgement call either way and have no dog in this fight since I don't buy used cars and I don't like the look of Teslas and won't buy one, but this is something that Tesla needs to make an official statement on to clarify sooner than later. |
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03-23-2020, 05:13 PM | #4 | |||||
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Quote:
Quote:
That said, there could be any number of reasons why individual cases have not been resolved, including possible suspicion of fraud, tampering or other legal circumstances. I don't expect public comment on all of that. I do expect them to make right anything that is justifiably unfair or genuine wrongdoing on their part, yes. Quote:
Quote:
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I do hope that all those involved have their cases resolved in an acceptable way because no one wants to see the customer bent over by the big corporate machine. |
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03-23-2020, 05:22 PM | #5 |
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Another reason to not buy a Tesla.
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03-23-2020, 06:17 PM | #6 |
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Could you imagine going and buying a used BMW and then having them take back the M-Package or heated seats.....WTF is Tesla thinking?
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03-23-2020, 06:22 PM | #7 |
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03-23-2020, 06:30 PM | #8 |
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03-24-2020, 01:43 PM | #10 |
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03-24-2020, 07:47 PM | #14 | |
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is only available for the original owners? Like BMW does now for extended maintenance contract that can't be refunded to the original owner and only available to the next owner if they pay a "refresh" fee! |
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03-24-2020, 07:47 PM | #15 |
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Kinda reminds me of how Intel or AMD used to disable performance features with their CPUs. Only later on emerges and under-current of users that managed to enable said CPU performance and unleash a massive market for mods.
I see this is where it'll go too. Whatever. I have 0 appetite for Tesla especially with Musk idiotic antics of late. |
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03-24-2020, 08:12 PM | #16 |
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Well, if that's their business model, let sales, and resales reflect consumer objection!
When cars can't be resold because of the business model, they will change! |
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