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Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Green Culture, Tesla Motors


It appears that Tesla's new $600-per-year service program for its Model S is not going over well with some of the owners and wait-listers. David Noland, a Model S reservation holder and freelance writer, has dug into it the details and clarified the one he's finding most annoying. And as it turns out, he's not the only one taking issue with the program.

According to Green Car Reports, Noland owns a 2011 Chevrolet Volt and likes the service coverage for the plug-in hybrid's electric motor and battery thermal-management system. It only needs minimal maintenance - a $49 annual system check at a local dealer and a $35 oil change every two years. That's $84 for two years of routine maintenance. For the Model S, it's a lot higher: $600 per year, and that electric car doesn't even need the oil change.

Tesla's official website says that the annual fee includes an inspection, replacement parts such as brakes and windshield wipers, roadside assistance, system monitoring, remote diagnostics and software updates, so it is more comprehensive. Looking for more detailed information, Noland contacted Tesla's public relations department but reportedly never heard back. Tesla CEO Elon Musk, though, did eventually respond to Noland's questions. "We are matching service cost to be less than a Mercedes of comparable purchase price," Musk wrote. "This basically amounts to $50/month and covers all software upgrades as well as concierge level service."

When Noland responded with a question about whether Tesla owners who opt out of the service program won't receive software upgrades, Musk apparently didn't respond.

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Continue reading Tesla Model S requires $600 annual service plan to keep warranty active
Tesla Model S requires $600 annual service plan to keep warranty active originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Mon, 15 Oct 2012 17:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.


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