Tesla Referral Program Axes Free Model Y, Roadster Offers

Photo: TeslaGong

Tesla is reportedly making changes to its referral program, and in a new update, the company seems to have begun revamping the referral program already.

According to @TeslaGong, Tesla has changed its referral program as of June 1, no longer offering a monthly draw for a free Model Y, or a quarterly draw for a Roadster.

While Tesla CEO Elon Musk has said in the past that the referral programs were not sustainable, the company has used these referrals to help spur along the mainstream adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) – and it has largely worked.

Changes to Tesla Referral program

From 1st June 2021
– 1000 miles / 1500 kms of Supercharger credit. No mention of Model Y@elonmusk has earlier pointed out that the referral program in the long run is unsustainable.

Thanks @TooOld4_This for heads up mate ! pic.twitter.com/hthaGddHSV

— Tesla in the Gong 🇦🇺🦘🤖🚕 (@TeslaGong) June 2, 2021

Tesla removed its offering of free Roadsters from the referral program, later switching to offering 1,000 free Supercharging miles. It’s still offering 1,000 free Supercharging miles as referral incentives for now, though it’s tough to say how much longer it will last. In this year’s first quarter alone, Tesla spent over $23 million on free Supercharging for referral customers.

Soon, according to Tesla, all referral links will be entirely removed from social media, though, for now, referrals will continue to happen via the Tesla app – with the company also planning to add app features for non-owners like test-driving and more.

Tesla led global sales in this year’s first quarter, which is a testament in and of itself to how effective the company’s referral programs were, even as the company begins to phase them out of its sales plans.