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Because Tesla can later offer a $5,000 upgrade to the 60kWh version. Customers are still getting a better car that has the potential to be software upgraded. W

by dm2 14y ago

Because Tesla can later offer a $5,000 upgrade to the 60kWh version. Customers are still getting a better car that has the potential to be software upgraded. Win-Win.

switz 14y ago
So we're entering a phase of micropayments on material objects now? In-app payments, but for your car. I'm not sure how I feel about it, to be honest.
- ryderm 14y ago
  It's not too different from adding an exhaust or new stereo. Not really the same as in-app payments.
  - monitron 14y ago
    It is different because in this case, the upgraded "parts" are already present in the car!
    - anonymfus 14y ago
      For example, there are already many cars with ESP, software limited to ABS.
      - twoodfin 14y ago
        Not for long: In the U.S. at least, electronic stability control is now mandatory.
    - glogla 14y ago
      So it's like zero-day on-disk DLC. There's no way customers might get angry about that.
- YokoZar 14y ago
  I doubt the expense would be particularly micro ;)
- HeyLaughingBoy 14y ago
  This is absolutely nothing new. 15 years ago I worked for a major manufacturer of high-end office equipment. One of the "upgrade" hardware features the machine had actually shipped with each machine. When a customer ordered it, the service technician only had to enter a code in a Diagnostic screen to enable the hardware. I had the task of implementing that feature and at first it seemed like a bit of a scam. After some thought it made perfect sense, though. Because of manufacturing costs, it was far cheaper to build each machine with the extra hardware than have the field tech install it. Besides, probably 90% of customers purchased it anyway.
gojomo 14y ago
And even better: they can offer the upgrade when the 40kWh runs out. "We've noticed you've run out of software-limited range in the middle of nowhere. For $5,000 we'll permanently upgrade your range, instantly!"
- seanmcdirmid 14y ago
  This could be a new business model for selling cars: the automotive freemium!

by dm2 14y ago

Because Tesla can later offer a $5,000 upgrade to the 60kWh version. Customers are still getting a better car that has the potential to be software upgraded. Win-Win.

switz 14y ago

So we're entering a phase of micropayments on material objects now? In-app payments, but for your car. I'm not sure how I feel about it, to be honest.

ryderm 14y ago
It's not too different from adding an exhaust or new stereo. Not really the same as in-app payments.
- monitron 14y ago
  It is different because in this case, the upgraded "parts" are already present in the car!
  - anonymfus 14y ago
    For example, there are already many cars with ESP, software limited to ABS.
    - twoodfin 14y ago
      Not for long: In the U.S. at least, electronic stability control is now mandatory.
  - glogla 14y ago
    So it's like zero-day on-disk DLC. There's no way customers might get angry about that.
YokoZar 14y ago
I doubt the expense would be particularly micro ;)
HeyLaughingBoy 14y ago
This is absolutely nothing new. 15 years ago I worked for a major manufacturer of high-end office equipment. One of the "upgrade" hardware features the machine had actually shipped with each machine. When a customer ordered it, the service technician only had to enter a code in a Diagnostic screen to enable the hardware. I had the task of implementing that feature and at first it seemed like a bit of a scam. After some thought it made perfect sense, though. Because of manufacturing costs, it was far cheaper to build each machine with the extra hardware than have the field tech install it. Besides, probably 90% of customers purchased it anyway.

gojomo 14y ago

And even better: they can offer the upgrade when the 40kWh runs out. "We've noticed you've run out of software-limited range in the middle of nowhere. For $5,000 we'll permanently upgrade your range, instantly!"

seanmcdirmid 14y ago
This could be a new business model for selling cars: the automotive freemium!