As part of Tesla’s continued push to expand and improve the service experience, Tesla has begun rolling out two new offerings at some of its Service and Collision Centers. This includes an affordable in-house rental program, as well as the ability to purchase some accessories or parts directly in-store.
These welcome upgrades help address common pain points and show that Tesla is listening to owner feedback.
Solving the Loaner Car Problem
A trip to the service center for an out-of-warranty issue can often come with some uncertainty. What do you drive in the meantime? Unless your insurance provides coverage, you’ll be out of luck in getting a car as comfortable as yours to drive in the meantime.
While Tesla has a loaner fleet, its availability is often limited, especially for customers undergoing out-of-warranty or collision repairs. This often means that owners need to arrange for their own, and sometimes pricey, third-party rentals.
To solve this, Tesla is now offering its own rental vehicles directly from select Service and Collision Centers. This program is specifically for customers who require out-of-warranty service or collision repair and are not eligible for a Tesla loaner, and is priced at a competitive $45 USD per day.
This is a great improvement. It offers a guaranteed and affordable option to stay in a Tesla while your vehicle is being fixed. It also helps to eliminate a common point of friction and uncertainty from the repair process.
Accessories at Service Centers
The second improvement is transforming the service center waiting areas into small retail hubs, similar to what you’d find in an ordinary car dealership’s waiting room. Tesla is now displaying and selling a small selection of commonly purchased parts and accessories that were previously only available through its online store.
This allows customers to see products like the all-weather mats or pet liners in person before making a purchase. It also enables them to buy them and use them immediately, skipping shipping times and costs for items they may need right away. It’s a smart move - it leverages the foot traffic of service locations and adds another layer of convenience.
Tesla is improving its waiting lounges with additional drink and snack options. Tesla already offered a good selection, but this is another change that helps make the experience a little more enjoyable.
While these initiatives are in a limited rollout now and may not apply to all Service Centers, they are a positive sign that Tesla is focusing on improving the service experience for customers. These changes will hopefully become standard across all Tesla locations in the future.
