Tesla has made software updating a standard practice to adjust the capabilities of its vehicles after purchase. The Model Y Standard Range RWD, originally sold with a range of approximately 420 km, can now benefit from an additional 64 to 97 km. This increase, which will cost owners between $1,500 and $2,000, depends on the version of the battery installed in the vehicle. Elon Musk clarified that this upgrade was awaiting a regulatory green light.
A paid software lock
In France, the base Model Y Propulsion has a range of 455 km, depending on how it is calculated (WLTP in Europe). It is not yet known whether French and European owners of this model will be entitled to this new paid feature, but this could depend on the on-board battery: in the United States, Model Ys produced since last October have included NMC batteries (LFP in Europe).
This announcement will actually surprise no one, because it is not a first for Tesla. As early as 2016, the company admitted that the Model S 70’s 70 kWh battery actually had a capacity of 75 kWh, a capacity that customers could exploit for an additional cost. This practice shows how Tesla, as well as other automakers, control access to existing features of their vehicles through paid software locks.
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We have to pay the bills somehow
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 4, 2024
Tesla’s decision to sell vehicles with underutilized capacity was, as one would imagine, received differently. It certainly makes it possible to offer purchasing flexibility by offering a more accessible base Price, with the possibility of improving performance subsequently. But on the other hand, it raises ethical and practical questions: the vehicle is in fact carrying a heavier battery than necessary.
This marketing model also questions the transparency of information given to consumers. Even though Tesla clearly states the specifications of the vehicles sold, the lack of details on the actual battery capacity may frustrate some Model Y SR RWD owners, finding that they have been carrying extra pounds with no immediate benefit.
The launch at the beginning of April of the new Model Y High-Autonomy RWD, which offers up to 600 km of autonomy, marked a turning point in the range. Sold from €46,990, this version, slightly more expensive than the old standard, is eligible for the ecological bonus (it is produced in the Berlin Gigafactory).
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