I think its universally accepted that Tesla's vehicles are amongst the most innovative and eco-friendly out there. Now its Tesla's turn to offer some more GREEN to its existing customers and to perhaps move some inventory.
My neighbor who owns a 2013 Tesla Model S P85 (one among a stable of 5 other cars he owns), arrived home recently with a brand new Tesla. He said that Tesla contacted him with a special program they are offering existing Tesla owners to buy back their existing car at 75% of its initial sales price, if they would purchase a new, more expensive Tesla. His Tesla is a little less than 3 years old and has about 20,000 miles he says, so this is a very rich offer (I think typical lease residuals for comparable luxury cars would be at the 50% to 60% range).
He told me that Tesla told him that they were buying the cars back in order to start a Tesla Certified Pre-Owned program.
Questions to AutoSpies members -
(a) Is Tesla smart in pursuing a Certified Pre-Owned Program (if in fact they are doing so, as I don't believe that such a program has been previously announced) to get people into Tesla's at lower price points?
(b) If such a rich buy-back program is wide-spread, is it a veiled attempt to juice Tesla's quarterly sales and work down some inventory of new, unsold cars?
(c) If such a program exists, is it really a back-ended, hidden, discount on new Tesla's?
(d) Would you buy a certified pre-owned Tesla?