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Revealing the Most Popular Tesla Model S Configurations

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New Tesla buyers are known to solicit feedback from members of the forum community on whether their proposed configuration is the right choice. I find this rather amusing considering there’s really no right choice and it’s purely subjective. What would be more valuable, and more interesting to say the least, is to see what configuration Tesla Model S owners are likely to walk away with.

Luckily some folks from the TeslaMotorsClub have already compiled a google doc that may give us an idea of what Model S options people are actually ordering. Let it be known that the results are based on a very small sample size that represents only a small fraction of the actual sales figures.

Tesla Model S Delivery by Country

It’s no surprise that 93% of orders are being delivered to owners within the US with the rest coming from Canada and Europe.

Tesla Model S Configurations - Delivery Countries

Within the US, California leads the pack at 37% while North Carolina comes ranks in second place followed by Massachusetts, Maryland, and Georgia.

Tesla Model S Configuration - Deliveries by State

Model S Battery Choice

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Most Popular Color

Tesla Model S Configuration - Color ChoicesBlack leads the pack at 23% of Model S owners choosing that as their color of choice with blue and grey a tie for second at 18%.

76% of buyers are upgrading to leather. The choice of color in the leather is pretty evenly split between all 3 color offerings. "Piano Black" stands out as the most popular interior trim with 51% of buyers selecting that offering. The remaining trim options are split evenly.

Only a mere 2% of buyers select Tesla's paint armor option.

Another interesting data point is that 39% of P85 customers select the red brake calliper option despite it being a free upgrade with the P85. The spoiler ranks higher in popularity with 52% of P85 customers selecting it.

Roof Selection

The Tesla panoramic roof is one of the coolest selling points of the car and as expected 69% of buyers choose it when configuring their Model S. If you don't select the panoramic roof you have the option to choose a roof that's painted in the color of the body or in black. 28% of buyers chose the body colored roof.

Technology Package

Tesla Model S Configuration - Touchscreen InfotainmentLikely to no ones surprise 85% of buyers chose the technology package which includes turn by turn routing, powered lift gate and many other fantastic features right on the 17" touchscreen. Without the Tech Package, some features of the vehicle are inaccessible. 80% of the people that picked the technology package opted for parking sensors but only 37% of them choose fog lights.

The Subzero weather package is not too popular at 26% but may grow over time as Tesla gains sales strength in colder regions such as the Northeast US and in Europe. I was surprised that 41% of buyers are choosing the premium sound option as it is a very pricy option that also requires a subscription for XM use.

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Also see: The Sound in the Tesla Model S

45% of people who opted for the technology package also choose to add the smart air suspension

I thought was crazy when I added the premium interior lighting package for an extra $1,000, but 81% of buyers are doing the same thing. That makes me feel a lot better about my decision!

Model S owners also seemed to really like the parcel shelf with 81% of buyers choosing it.

Single vs Dual Charger

Only 37% of buyers are choosing dual chargers which I personally believe is a necessity. Hopefully with better education buyers will opt for the dual charger option and save themselves from incurring a costly post-upgrade charge.

Also see: Every New Tesla Owner’s Dilemma: Dual Chargers vs High Power Wall Connector (HPWC)

Tesla Model S by the Numbers

Summarizing the most popular options you'd end up buying a black non-performance 85 kWh Tesla with panoramic sunroof and Piano Black decor, tech package, parking sensors and the parcel shelf.  This configuration goes for approximately $83,070 after Federal and state incentives.

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Ultimately the options you pick for your Tesla Model S is your choice and owners will tell you that you can't buy a bad Tesla.

Tesla Model S Configuration - Most Popular Configuration

 

"Rob's passion is technology and gadgets. An engineer by profession and an executive and founder at several high tech startups Rob has a unique view on technology and some strong opinions. When he's not writing about Tesla

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Tesla launches its new branded Supercharger for Business with first active station

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Credit: Tesla

Tesla has officially launched its first branded Supercharger just months after initiating a new program that allows third-party companies to brand their own charging piles.

The site opened in Land O’ Lakes, Florida, and features eight V4 Supercharging stalls offering up to 325 kW of charging speed. It appears it was purchased by a company called Suncoast Credit Union. This particular branch is located Northeast of Tampa, which is on the Gulf of Mexico.

It features graphics of Florida animals, like alligators:

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Tesla launched this program back in September, and it basically was a way to expand its Supercharger presence and also allow companies to pay for the infrastructure. Tesla maintains it. When it announced the “Supercharger for Business,” it said:

“Purchase and install Superchargers at your business. Superchargers are compatible with all electric vehicles, bringing EV drivers to your business by offering convenient, reliable charging.”

The program does a few things. Initially, it expands EV charging infrastructure and makes charging solutions more readily available for drivers. It can also attract people to those businesses specifically.

Tesla launches new Supercharger program that business owners will love

The chargers can also be branded with any logo that the business chooses, which makes them more personalized and also acts as an advertisement.

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The best part is that the customers do not have to maintain anything about the Supercharger. Tesla still takes care of it and resolves any issues:

“We treat your site like we treat our sites. By providing you with a full-service package that includes network operations, preventative maintenance, and driver support, we’re able to guarantee 97% uptime–the highest in the industry.”

It appears the Superchargers will also appear within the in-car nav during routing, so they’ll be publicly available to anyone who needs to use them. They are still available to all EVs that have worked with Tesla to utilize its infrastructure, and they are not restricted to people who are only visiting the business.

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Tesla reveals its Cybertruck light bar installation fix

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u/Kruzat, see page for license, via Wikimedia Commons

Tesla has revealed its Cybertruck light bar installation fix after a recall exposed a serious issue with the accessory.

Tesla and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) initiated a recall of 6,197 Cybertrucks back in October to resolve an issue with the Cybertruck light bar accessory. It was an issue with the adhesive that was provided by a Romanian company called Hella Romania S.R.L.

Tesla recalls 6,197 Cybertrucks for light bar adhesive issue

The issue was with the primer quality, as the recall report from the NHTSA had stated the light bar had “inadvertently attached to the windshield using the incorrect surface primer.”

Instead of trying to adhere the light bar to the Cybertruck with an adhesive, Tesla is now going to attach it with a bracketing system, which will physically mount it to the vehicle instead of relying on adhesive strips or glue.

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Tesla outlines this in its new Service Bulletin, labeled SB-25-90-001, (spotted by Not a Tesla App) where it shows the light bar will be remounted more securely:

The entire process will take a few hours, but it can be completed by the Mobile Service techs, so if you have a Cybertruck that needs a light bar adjustment, it can be done without taking the vehicle to the Service Center for repair.

However, the repair will only happen if there is no delamination or damage present; then Tesla could “retrofit the service-installed optional off-road light bar accessory with a positive mechanical attachment.”

The company said it would repair the light bar at no charge to customers. The light bar issue was one that did not result in any accidents or injuries, according to the NHTSA’s report.

This was the third recall on Cybertruck this year, as one was highlighted in March for exterior trim panels detaching during operation. Another had to do with front parking lights being too bright, which was fixed with an Over-the-Air update last month.

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Tesla is already expanding its Rental program aggressively

The program has already launched in a handful of locations, specifically, it has been confined to California for now. However, it does not seem like Tesla has any interest in keeping it restricted to the Golden State.

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Credit: Grok

Tesla is looking to expand its Rental Program aggressively, just weeks after the program was first spotted on its Careers website.

Earlier this month, we reported on Tesla’s intention to launch a crazy new Rental program with cheap daily rates, which would give people in various locations the opportunity to borrow a vehicle in the company’s lineup with some outrageous perks.

Along with the cheap rates that start at about $60 per day, Tesla also provides free Full Self-Driving operation and free Supercharging for the duration of the rental. There are also no limits on mileage or charging, but the terms do not allow the renter to leave the state from which they are renting.

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The program has already launched in a handful of locations, specifically, it has been confined to California for now. However, it does not seem like Tesla has any interest in keeping it restricted to the Golden State.

Job postings from Tesla now show it is planning to launch the Rental program in at least three new states: Texas, Tennessee, and Massachusetts.

The jobs specifically are listed as a Rental Readiness Specialist, which lists the following job description:

“The Tesla Rental Program is looking for a Rental Readiness Specialist to work on one of the most progressive vehicle brands in the world. The Rental Readiness Specialist is a key contributor to the Tesla experience by coordinating the receipt of incoming new and used vehicle inventory. This position is responsible for fleet/lot management, movement of vehicles, vehicle readiness, rental invoicing, and customer hand-off. Candidates must have a high level of accountability, and personal satisfaction in doing a great job.”

It also says that those who take the position will have to charge and clean the cars, work with clients on scheduling pickups and drop-offs, and prepare the paperwork necessary to initiate the rental.

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The establishment of a Rental program is big for Tesla because it not only gives people the opportunity to experience the vehicles, but it is also a new way to rent a car.

Just as the Tesla purchasing process is more streamlined and more efficient than the traditional car-buying experience, it seems this could be less painful and a new way to borrow a car for a trip instead of using your own.

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