4 ms·
They sell something that feels like a free, unrestricted, perpetual license to use the services "that come with the car". But when you buy a car it's natural t
by LeifCarrotson 7y ago
They sell something that feels like a free, unrestricted, perpetual license to use the services "that come with the car". But when you buy a car it's natural to think that it's yours in full, as much as a banana you traded for a peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwich in the lunchroom was unequivocally yours.
I agree that legally it's probably no different than any other modern TOS or EULA: you own nothing, you have no rights, the company can do whatever they feel like and change those rules at any time. I hate the amoral, greed-driven, power-differential-enabled lack of true ownership that these agreements cause. I like the idea of something a simple right to use a Tesla service that lasts as long as the car does.
I'd be willing to come to an agreement on where in the ship-of-Theseus debate the car is no longer the car, so you don't have vehicles that have been crushed in trash compactor being stripped for their Supercharger license or SIM card and that Supercharger connector/key installed on a Leaf or SIM card installed in a phone, and you don't have used, serviceable vehicles sold without those licenses. I'd prefer open to the idea that those rights are separate from the vehicle, purchased by an individual, able to be sold by an individual.
I wonder whether my son will think he owns his car or the software that runs on his computer 30 years from now, or whether he'll just be subscribed to services that provide a temporary, revocable, non-transferable right to everything he uses.
- slg 7y agoTo be clear, I'm not judging anyone with those beliefs. I just think people should be clear about this situation. You own your Tesla just as much as you own any car. Probably the second most important distinguishing factor of Teslas (behind just being EVs) is the connected services that Tesla provides that no other automaker is even close to providing. I don't think it is unreasonable that using those services comes with a ToS. I would much rather my car automatically keep my maps and GPS updated rather than having to schedule an appointment for service at a dealer and pay to get those updates which is how some other auto manufacturers handle the process. You are free to disagree and to vote with your wallet by not buying a Tesla.