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Model 3 important innovation

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Someone in another thread said that the important hurdle for Model 3 was not design and manufacturing, but servicing and supporting literally millions of customers. How would they do this? They could retain the current approaches for the premium model S, but they might not upscale economically. Others have suggested that they may need to franchise to the traditional dealers.

However what if the real innovation for Model 3 was not sophisticated premium features, but unprecedented reliability and a car architecture designed for easy replacement of components such as motors etc, thus negating the need for specialist services, and allowing a wide range of people to fix or replace with minimal training.

Diagnostics can be undertaken remotely, parts allocated and sent to the service provider of your choice. This would be the exact opposite of ICE models which usually require specialist tools and training. This is why it would be an important innovation (in my eyes)
 
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Very interesting idea. But I want Tesla's name over the door if I get my Model 3 fixed (if I get one). Already problems happen when repairs are made - I can't imagine the finger pointing if an outside shop got involved regularly. Plus that sort of smacks of Tesla waiving a white flag saying "we can't be a real car company and service our own cars".

I hope they are ramping up service centers in anticipation of the Model 3. They seem to plan real well - a strength of the company. Hopefully they're going to be on top of this.

And ABSOLUTELY I object to independent dealers/service centers franchised by Tesla. GM and others have proven the hell that results from this. EM is right on this score.
 
Pretty sure this is why they are looking to create a MILLION mile drive train. Little to no service necessary. What if Model 3 came with an UNLIMITED MILEAGE WARRANTY.....
Oddly perhaps, that is not really an innovation. In a number of markets Porsche has had unlimited mileage warranties. A handful of less well known offerings have been known to do that. Just as Hyundai established a ten year 100,000 mile warranty in several markets, doing so keeps buyers confident. How many of us have bought the eight year Tesla plan?

This seems to me to be an excellent idea, one that really would not cost Tesla nearly so much as it would an ICE car. Now imagine if they do the unlimited mileage with eight years warranty? The big argument against this is that the desired $35,000 entry price point would be challenged by the warranty cost issue. Still...
 
Someone in another thread said that the important hurdle for Model 3 was not design and manufacturing, but servicing and supporting literally millions of customers. How would they do this? They could retain the current approaches for the premium model S, but they might not upscale economically. Others have suggested that they may need to franchise to the traditional dealers.

However what if the real innovation for Model 3 was not sophisticated premium features, but unprecedented reliability and a car architecture designed for easy replacement of components such as motors etc, thus negating the need for specialist services, and allowing a wide range of people to fix or replace with minimal training.

Diagnostics can be undertaken remotely, parts allocated and sent to the service provider of your choice. This would be the exact opposite of ICE models which usually require specialist tools and training. This is why it would be an important innovation (in my eyes)
I'm not sure of the logic here. Why would a franchise dealer be more "economical" than a Tesla service center? Aside from the initial capital investment (relatively small), it seems a franchise would be more expensive both on the sales and service side.
The million mile drive train is a realistic goal and there really is very little else that should need regular service. Tires are really the only thing that require regular replacement and any tire shop can replace tires. Tesla doesn't even seem to wear out brake pads. Most ICE car franchise dealers make most of their profit from service but there shouldn't be much service revenue for the Tesla. Its service centers should be able to handle a much larger population of cars than ICE dealers.
 
I'm not sure of the logic here. Why would a franchise dealer be more "economical" than a Tesla service center? Aside from the initial capital investment (relatively small), it seems a franchise would be more expensive both on the sales and service side.


No sorry not to make this clear. A car that is ultra rleliable or when requiring repair is 'plug and play' so can be done by a wide range of repair shops safely and cheaply, perhaps under the guidance of a remote service or contact centre, would reduce the capital investment required to run directly funded service centres. Tesla service centres are better than franchises but could be overwhelmed with mass adoption. This is the exact opposite of a restrictive franchise model.

But I would agree that this would require a change in mindset from Tesla, which is highly integrated with model S support. I just thought that ease of service might be built into the design

Also there is the matter of work under warranty (paid and guaranteed by Tesla) and outside of warranty (where the benefit of easy repair comes into play more)
 
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Well, if they made parts and service manuals generally available, then Joe's Garage could fix them...

Seriously, though, there is nothing magic about a Tesla. Brakes, suspension, steering, etc. is not much different than a normal car. With a service manual available, any competent mechanic could fix non-drivetrain issues.

For the drivetrain, just make everything FRU's (field replaceable units). Send parts out with a core charge (refundable when the broken part is returned). Not that difficult.
 
Well, if they made parts and service manuals generally available, then Joe's Garage could fix them...

Seriously, though, there is nothing magic about a Tesla. Brakes, suspension, steering, etc. is not much different than a normal car. With a service manual available, any competent mechanic could fix non-drivetrain issues.

For the drivetrain, just make everything FRU's (field replaceable units). Send parts out with a core charge (refundable when the broken part is returned). Not that difficult.

You don't think there would be more complications than normal? I mean when Joe screws up? And Joe will screw up, a certain percentage of the time... (I'm talking about where its a warranty repair)
 
Pretty sure this is why they are looking to create a MILLION mile drive train. Little to no service necessary. What if Model 3 came with an UNLIMITED MILEAGE WARRANTY.....

It's not about the mileage but how long they warrantee it for. Mercedes already offers an unlimited mile warranty for their CPO cars so someone else is already offering an unlimited mile warranty. If the Model 3 comes with a 10 year unlimited mile warranty, that would be quite something.
 
It's not about the mileage but how long they warrantee it for. Mercedes already offers an unlimited mile warranty for their CPO cars so someone else is already offering an unlimited mile warranty. If the Model 3 comes with a 10 year unlimited mile warranty, that would be quite something.

Well Kia offers an unlimited kilometer 7 year warranty on their cars in Australia, the best in the industry, Hyundai does 5 year unlimited km. Most others are still stuck on 3 year/100,000km, with Mazda's 3yr/Unlimited and Mitsubishis 5yr/130,000km being the only other exemption. So I see no reason Tesla couldn't match that of an ICE Kia.

Adam.
 
It's not about the mileage but how long they warrantee it for. Mercedes already offers an unlimited mile warranty for their CPO cars so someone else is already offering an unlimited mile warranty. If the Model 3 comes with a 10 year unlimited mile warranty, that would be quite something.

I see your point but I guess I should have written unlimited drive train warranty for the life of the car. meaning years and miles.