The successful Tesla referral program that has seen buyers of the automaker’s electric cars recruit other customers by giving both recruiter and new buyer 6 months of free EV charging is coming to an end.
The announcement was made via Twitter on Wednesday evening (US time) by Tesla CEO and founder Elon Musk, who encouraged current Tesla owners to make sure they referred any further customers before the cutoff date of February 1st, 2019, if they wanted to pass on the free charging offer.
The Tesla customer referral program will end on Feb 1. If you want to refer a friend to buy a Tesla & give them 6 months of free Supercharging, please do so before then.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 17, 2019
While many followers took the opportunity to thank Musk for the referral program, the news has been somewhat disappointing for Australian Tesla enthusiasts since the Model 3 is not even available here yet.
If the Model 3 configuration were made available on Tesla’s Australian website before then end of the month, punters would be able to take advantage of the offer before it ends by ordering their Tesla Model 3 through the website.
The referral program was originally intended to cease on March 11, which means nearly six weeks have been shaved off the original offer.
Asked if there would be another referral program in the offing, Musk replied, “No, the whole referral incentive system will end,” citing the main reason as added costs, in particular the Model 3.
Yes, ending on Feb 1. It’s adding too much cost to the cars, especially Model 3.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 17, 2019
Currently, the only Tesla EVs available in Australia are the Model S and Model X which come with a minimum price tag of $A168,305 for the 100kW dual motor Model S sedan, or $A172,685 for the similarly spec’d Model X SUV.
With the lower spec’d 75D Model S and Model X now dropped from Tesla’s stable, the minimum price for either model has now increased considerably.
The Model 3 is expected in Australia in mid-2019, and some pundits have estimated it will cost around $A70,000.
Bridie Schmidt is associate editor for The Driven, sister site of Renew Economy. She has been writing about electric vehicles since 2018, and has a keen interest in the role that zero-emissions transport has to play in sustainability. She has participated in podcasts such as Download This Show with Marc Fennell and Shirtloads of Science with Karl Kruszelnicki and is co-organiser of the Northern Rivers Electric Vehicle Forum. Bridie also owns a Tesla Model Y and has it available for hire on evee.com.au.