In June, the electric vehicle manufacturer released all of its patents to the public, allowing any automaker to use Tesla’s designs and technology without fear of repercussion.
“If we clear a path to the creation of compelling electric vehicles, but then lay intellectual property landmines behind us to inhibit others, we are acting in a manner contrary to that goal,” said Telsa CEO Elon Musk.
Now, the American automaker is turning its focus toward long-term customer satisfaction and brand loyalty. In a blog post published on August 15th, Musk announced that all 85 kWh Tesla Model S vehicles, even those that have already been sold, will benefit from an eight-year, infinite mile warranty on the drive unit.
The drive unit warranty now mirrors that of the battery pack, allowing customers eight years of nearly worry-free driving. Musk also noted that there is no limit on the number of drivers during the warranty period.
“In hindsight, this should have been our policy from the beginning of the Model S program,” he wrote. “If we truly believe that electric motors are fundamentally more reliable than gasoline engines, with far fewer moving parts and no oily reside or combustion byproducts to gum up the works, that our warranty policy should reflect that.”
RELATED: Preview Tesla’s upcoming Model X
Tesla’s announcement could be in response to a concerning Consumer Reports test, which highlighted potential reliability issues in the Model S. The problems included central screen software glitches, sticking door handles and trunk lids, and charging adapter failures. These are all relatively minor issues, though, and they were all covered under warranty.
In other Tesla news, the brand’s BMW 3 series-fighting Model III is currently in the works, featuring a 200-mile range and a base price of around $35,000. It will reportedly be unveiled in 2016.
