Tesla considering supporting independent dealers as used EV volume ramps up

Tesla is exploring steps it could take to support the used EV market no matter whether it's an independent, franchised dealer or its own dealerships that are stocking its cars.

A decade since the first Tesla showrooms opened in the UK, and now that Tesla sells more new cars in the UK annually than Mini, it needs to protect its residual values and encourage more used car buyers to  consider switching to electric, so is introducing a certified pre-owned scheme for its used vehicles.

Mark Smith, Tesla's used car lead for UK and Ireland, told the annual Vehicle Remarketing Association (VRA) conference last week: “We’ve very much been a new car business since the outset, and we’re now transitioning to that new and used car business.

“Ultimately, everything we do should be related back to our mission of accelerating the transition to sustainable energy, and that’s regardless of who sells that car; whether that’s us, or whether that’s an independent franchise, whoever that is, we should be supporting them.”

He added: “We’re looking at a number of different ways of how we can support the wider (used) market.”

Smith also highlighted that “future-proofing” EVs through over-the-air updates was something buyers needed to be educated about and how the vehicles can be “improve over time”.

“It’s not necessarily selling the car; it’s about selling peace of mind,” he said.

In June AM-Online reported that Tesla was also set to expand its mobile vehicle repair programme.

“The biggest thing that is within the industry’s control is to give everyone the opportunity to experience an EV,” he told delegates.

“We should make it easier and more accessible for customers to experience and myth-bust by actually living with a car.”

The certified pre-owned programme will sell used Tesla cars built from 2018 onwards and up to 90,000 miles. This is currently available at eight locations, with a plan to increase this to 10.

Tesla EVs have been in the UK market since 2014, and many of its earlier cars, the Model S and Model X, have reached the forecourts of independent used car dealers. 

Using in-house refurbishment teams, the manufacturer says the programme will build confidence in its used cars, control residual values and give customers peace of mind that the vehicle has been refurbished by a Tesla technician.