The current global pandemic has affected numerous businesses, and the auto industry has been hit extra hard. But Tesla has been trying to keep things business as usual. Although they paused manufacturing on March 23rd with the world in the midst of lockdowns and public restrictions, they’ve decided to take a new route by developing two new-vehicle pick-up options.
Here’s how Tesla plans to keep their sales high and customers happy during this new reality.
Express Delivery
Customers who are using the Express Delivery must still show up at the Tesla Delivery Center, where they can schedule an appointment. It’s quite a revolutionary process: using Tesla’s app location tracking, the customer can go directly to their brand new car to inspect it. All of the required documents are already inside and prepared ahead of time. Customers can also access a video tutorial on the main touch screen and turn up the engine without using a car key.
Once finished and ready to hit the road, an advisor from the company will then collect the documents and the technician will be adding a new license plate with a temporary tag.
Direct Drop Off
This is a completely touchless delivery option. Prior to the delivery, customers can fill out all of the paperwork and make the payments digitally. Then all they need to do is download the Tesla app, pick a drop off location for their new ride. Tesla then drops the car off at their location, which the customer can unlock using the app. The remaining paperwork (left inside the car) needs to be sent back within 24hours in a pre-paid shipping envelope – with no need to physically go to the post office. Right now, this delivery option is available in 12 states.
Now you’re probably asking yourselves, what about the repair services? Well, Tesla has a fleet of Rangers who can travel all the way to the car’s location with all the necessary equipment. At this time, they are trying to minimize any contact by asking owners to make a maintenance request via its app. If a Ranger is necessary for the job, owners are then asked to make their car available at a safe location (their driveways, for example).
The Ranger will call or text the owner to have the vehicle unlocked remotely before his arrival. To sum things up, the payment is done through the app or by phone. The Ranger wipes down everything that’s he touched and sends you a message when he’s done. This is definitely just what this time calls for.