While the overall EV market is still growing worldwide, Tesla no longer dominates that market as much as it once did. But this overall decline in Tesla's year over year sales and market share is more about the antics of the company's CEO and less about the quality of the cars or their technology.
Though the car maker has only been mass producing cars since 2012, Tesla cracked the top 10 most reliable brands in Consumer Reports' latest study. Tesla's Supercharger network is the best in the business, and, while the company has opened the network up to other brands, there are still thousands of Tesla Superchargers that are exclusive to Tesla cars (Tesla V2 Superchargers) as they use a Tesla-proprietary communication network. Tesla's V3 and V4 chargers are built on the CCS protocol and can be used by Tesla cars and by other brands, which helps the company generate recurrent revenue.
Also, Tesla's FSD (Full Self-Driving) tech was recently rated the top driver assistance technology by far by Motor Trends. FSD does still require human supervision, but with billions of miles of training of its AI, Tesla FSD handles almost every driving situation deftly and it gets better with each new update.
As a Tesla Model 3 owner (with FSD) since 2018, I've seen the tech take huge strides in performance and reliability over the years, and this is with the older gen 3 hardware. With the 4th generation processor and high resolution cameras available in the latest Tesla vehicles, FSD has gotten even better at driving, both on city streets and on highways. I've driven all the way from New York City to Seattle and back, with FSD active for nearly the entire trip and it really helps to take the stress out of long distance drives.
With 8 cameras pointing in every direction and a highly trained AI maintaining your speed and lane position and handling interchanges and traffic signals, FSD is already a better driver than many humans I've encountered, and it will only improve as time goes on. Also, you can instantly take over at any time just by tapping the brake or turning the wheel. FSD "Supervised" does still currently require human supervision so do please pay attention! Eventually Tesla's FSD will likely evolve into full autonomous driving, and when it does, its value will soar.
If you're planning on getting a Tesla car with FSD soon, you might not want to wait. The company recently announced that its FSD package will only be available as a one-time purchase until February 14, 2026. After that date, FSD will only be available by monthly subscription (currently $99/month). The company also announced that the window to transfer over an FSD purchase from one car to another will expire on March 31.
It seems that the company is expecting an uptick in demand for FSD and wants to follow the subscription model to extend the company's recurrent revenue streams rather than collecting a one-time fixed price up front. Also, keep in mind that Tesla may (probably will) raise the subscription price as the tech becomes even more full-featured. But if you buy it up front, you'll get all future updates for free and FSD does transfer over to new owners with the car in the case of a private sale.
In conjunction with these deadlines, the company is actually offering a discount of $500 for any new Model 3 or Model Y purchased with FSD. Buyers of a Model S, Model X or Cybertruck can save a full $1,000 on their new car purchase. And, if you are selling or trading in an older Tesla with the FSD option, you can transfer that FSD license to your new car at no additional cost (up until March 31). If you choose not to buy FSD up front, you can still get a free 90-day FSD trial (but remember, the option to buy FSD outright ends on February 14th).
To get these deals, you need to use a referral link or referral code from an existing Tesla owner as the discounts are a part of the Tesla Referral program. Existing Tesla owners can also get "loyalty discounts" of the same amounts with a new Tesla car purchase.
If you have a friend or family member who owns a Tesla car or solar panel system already, ask them for their referral link or referral code. If you need a link, feel free to use one of ours below:
The company's Model 3 sedan and Model Y SUV are their two top sellers, and both underwent a recent refresh with improved interior cabin styling, more comfortable suspension and road handling, reduced cabin noise, a new infotainment screen for rear seat passengers, ventilated seats, improved range and efficiency and improved cameras and self-driving hardware.
The latest Model Y trim, the Model Y Performance also became the first Tesla (other than the Cybertruck) to support "V2L" (Vehicle to Load). This means you can plug in just about any electrical device or appliance including a space heater, air conditioner, refrigerator or power tool into your car in case of a power outage or off-grid adventure. The car requires an adapter for this and current handles up to 120V/20 Amp loads. You can even plug in a Tesla Mobile charger to charge another Tesla directly from your car's charging port.
The company has stated that a future update will be available to tie the Model Y Performance into your home power system for whole home backup power in the case of a blackout or grid interruption. With its built-in 80 kWH battery, a fully charged Model Y could power most homes for days without interruption.
Other models, including the Model S, Model X and Cybertruck are currently eligible for a $1,000 discount with purchase (with or without FSD). A Tesla solar panel or PowerWall purchase is also eligible for a credit of $400 in Tesla bucks once your system goes online.
These offers are available for both new custom order vehicles and for existing inventory purchases (new vehicles only, not used). At the time of publication, inventory models of Model 3 and Model Y are eligible for one free upgrade (paint, interior or wheels) and the Model Y Performance comes with upgraded paint, upgraded interior and an integrated tow hitch at no additional charge.
Sure! In addition to new customers being eligible for a referral discount, existing Tesla customers can get what's called a "loyalty discount." The value of a loyalty discount and referral discount is the same. Just follow your own referral link when beginning the order process and the loyalty discount will be applied. According to Tesla's current Terms and Conditions of the "Refer and Earn" program, loyalty discounts are limited to a total of 10 self-referrals over the life of the account. But this may be subject to change. Details on the referral program are documented on the Tesla's web site's "Refer and Earn Terms and Conditions" page.
Absolutely! If you currently own a Tesla, you can find your Tesla referral code in the Tesla app's "Refer and Earn" section. Send that referral link to friends or family members who are considering a Tesla and you will earn a credit of "Tesla Bucks" in your account. This credit can be used toward merchandise in the Tesla shop, a new car purchase, Supercharging or even maintenance or service performed at a Tesla service center. Credits appear in your Tesla Wallet once the referred customer takes delivery of the car or solar panel system.
As a regular referrer, I'm happy to see the program offer rewards that can be used on useful things like a new car purchase, Tesla merchandise and accessories or even service and maintenance expenses. Referral rewards currently expire one year after they are earned. The expiration date is based on the "grant date" which is the day the new buyer takes delivery of his or her new car. Referral orders show up as "pending" in your account after the order is placed but before the car is delivered.
The current referral discounts for buyers are applicable toward the purchase of a Tesla Model S, Model 3, Model X, Model Y or Cybertruck. Tesla solar roof and solar panel systems are also currently eligible for a credit of $400 in Tesla bucks once your new Tesla solar system has been "provisioned."
While used vehicles are not eligible for referral bonuses, new in-stock inventory vehicles are eligible for the referral bonus as well as any available federal, state and local incentives. Inventory cars qualify as "new" as long as they have never been registered to an owner other than Tesla. This means you can sometimes find a demo or loaner vehicle with a few miles on the odometer available at a discount which is still eligible for any and all federal and state incentives for EV purchases. Just make sure to use a referral link when you start shopping for your inventory vehicle (referral links are included below).
Tesla's FSD is one of the top driver assistance options on the market today and the only one that can drive the full distance from origin to virtually any destination (in approved markets) with no or minimal human driver intervention. And despite the CEO's personal antics, Tesla still leads the automotive sector for brand loyalty, with 87% of Tesla owners saying they plan to buy another Tesla and 7% saying they plan to buy a different brand of electric vehicle (only 6% say they plan to go back to a gas-powered vehicle after owning a Tesla EV).
By locking in a Tesla FSD purchase before February 14th, car buyers can get permanent access to the feature now, with free updates for the life of the vehicle, without having to pay a monthly subscription fee. If you're driving an older Tesla vehicle with FSD, your option to transfer that to a new Tesla expires in March, so now may be a good time to upgrade if you're in the market for a new car.
Related Reading:
Tesla Referral Program FAQ (CleanTechnica)
