This is a great way to win over EV skeptics
Tesla has introduced a new Rental program with low daily rates, giving people who are nervous about making the switch to an EV the chance to experience one of its vehicles without a long-term commitment.
Available at select U.S. stores, the new rental program allows owners to enjoy a Tesla for up to seven days, with daily rates starting at $60. The program offers many other perks, including free charging and a credit if you decide to purchase your own Tesla.
Full-Self Driving (Supervised) is Included
Tesla’s Level 2 self-driving system, recently improved as part of a massive update, will be included in the rental. Ordinarily, this system will add $8,000 to the price of a new Tesla. It allows the vehicle to drive itself in most situations, but still requires constant driver supervision.
According to the fine print about the rental program at a San Diego location, charging is free for the duration of the rental, which can be for between three and seven days. The base $60 rate likely applies to the cheapest Model Y or Model 3—Tesla did not specify if its top models are all included in the program, but neither did it mention any exclusions, so we assume you can rent anything from a Model 3 Standard to a Cyberbeast.
Mileage is unlimited as long as you’re renting your Tesla, but you can’t drive it out of the state you’re in. If you decide to order your own Tesla within seven days of your rental, you can receive a purchase credit of up to $250.
The rental program is offered until December 31.
Why It Matters
Many Tesla owners have insisted they’ll never go back to a gas-powered car, often citing Tesla EVs’ combination of performance, clever tech features, and self-driving capabilities as being hard to give up once you’re used to it. For this reason, Tesla’s brand loyalty has traditionally been high—but it has declined this year for reasons that have little to do with the cars themselves. Clearly, Tesla still believes it can win over a decent percentage of renters who get to experience the advantages of driving and owning one of their EVs.
Besides this, EV makers are on a mission to drive buyer interest after the federal tax credit fell away at the end of September. We’ve seen massive price cuts to models like the Hyundai Ioniq 5, along with attractive lease offers.
Tesla’s rental program should be a great way for buyers to test the EV waters before making the change permanent. This may help to slow the dramatic decline in EV market share for Tesla in America.
Related: From 80% to 38%: Tesla’s Stunning Market Share Collapse in America
