Tesla rolls out first 'contactless' test drives at remote facility in Scotland
Feels like something from Covid times
Tesla has launched a new service for potential buyers that allows them to take a car for a test drive without having to visit a Tesla showroom.
The idea is that prospective buyers of the Model 3 saloon or Model Y SUV can register their interest in taking a test drive, clear all of the ‘paperwork’ online and then visit a test location independent of the Tesla dealer network and sales advisors. There, the selected car will be unlocked remotely to be taken for a test drive.
It’s part of Tesla’s push to modernise car buying, the American EV maker said. The company already uses an online-only purchase model — whether you order a new Tesla at home or in one of the company’s dealerships or boutique stores dotted across the globe, the purchase process is all done via the Tesla website — and this is another step to make it easier for buyers to get behind the wheel of one of its cars, it said.
The idea is that remote test drives can take place anywhere across the UK, and not necessarily at a Tesla store. The first location to be set up to use the remote test drive facility is Taste Perthshire, a garden centre, restaurant and 24-hour fuel and charging site on the A9 north of Perth in Scotland. Interested parties can either register their interest online or they can scan the QR code located on the vehicles that are parked at the test drive location.
Once a test drive has been arranged, potential buyers simply ring the Tesla call centre when they arrive at Taste Perthshire and an advisor will be able to verify their identity using the car’s cameras and unlock the selected model remotely.
Since driving a Tesla is likely to be an alien experience for some, a local Tesla representative will be on call to guide drivers through the car’s controls and features in a virtual consultation, helping to provide some peace of mind before driving commences.
Each test drive lasts for around 30 minutes, at which point all that is asked is that the car is returned to its allocated parking space and is plugged in to recharge, ready for the next scheduled test drive.
Drivers must then confirm with an advisor that the test drive has been completed, and the call centre will be able to offer any further assistance with a potential purchase.
This new test drive incentive is designed to boost sales for the electric car maker, which has faced some turbulent times of late, both in terms of overall sales and how CEO Elon Musk’s ownership of Twitter has had an impact on Tesla’s share price.
While sales in the UK remain relatively strong — the Tesla Model Y was the third best-selling car here in 2022 — that hasn’t stopped Tesla slashing prices of its cars in recent months. Savings of up to £8,000 are now available on some versions of the Model 3 and Model Y, although — controversially — these savings weren’t offered to buyers who placed orders just before the cuts were announced.
Prices for the Model 3 start from £42,990 while the Model Y opens at £44,990. Tesla’s other two models, the Model S and Model X, aren’t currently available to order in the UK while the company tries to meet high demand for these two machines in the US.
Remote test drives at Taste Perthshire are available every day of the week from 10:30am-5pm.
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