Tesla Boosts Model S Warranty To Infinite Miles After Review Ding

Tesla Motors has boosted the warranty on its Model S drivetrain, increasing it to infinite miles and retroactively applying it to all the Model S cars the EV company has sold. While you'd think it might be an opportunity for Tesla founder Elon Musk to gloat – given how rare such a warranty is – the outspoken executive says that in fact he regrets not doing it sooner. "In hindsight," Musk writes today, "this should have been our policy from the beginning of the Model S program."

That's because the Tesla CEO feels the warranty should illustrate exactly how confident he and his company are in the polish of electric engines.

"If we truly believe that electric motors are fundamentally more reliable than gasoline engines," Musk points out, "with far fewer moving parts and no oily residue or combustion byproducts to gum up the works, then our warranty policy should reflect that."

It's worth noting that you'll have to cover those "infinite" covered miles within an eight year period (for the 85 kWh version), since the coverage applies to whichever of the two comes first.

Still, it's an impressive move by the industry-shaking firm, though Musk notes that there will be "a moderately negative effect" on the company's short-term earnings as it shores up extra cash to offset the possibility of greater than originally expected warranty claims.

The news comes as Tesla faces some unexpected criticism from Consumer Reports earlier this week. The review stalwart had showered the Model S with glowing praise in its initial coverage, but after almost 16,000 miles had developed some glitches in the electronics and other systems.

Consumer Reports says it's waiting until it hears more feedback from owners before deciding whether its experiences will change its decision to recommend the Model S.

SOURCE Tesla

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