Tesla, known for its unconventional approach to selling and servicing cars, launched a new service – wrapping cars with colored and transparent film.
Typically, such work is performed by special tuning studios, and not by car manufacturers. Therefore, Tesla fans are already wondering why the company needs this.
We also decided to look into this issue.
The film protects the body and also changes the appearance
Protective films are nothing new in the automotive market. Many car owners want to protect the body of their car from chips, scratches, reagents and any other external influence, so they glue a transparent protective film.
If a change in appearance is added to this goal, then a colored film is applied. With its help, you can change the color of the car without completely repainting it and get the same protective properties.
A logical question arises: if you want to change the color, then why can’t you choose the right one at the purchasing stage? The fact is that manufacturers offer a limited number of colors, so the desired color or shade may simply not be in the configurator. The same applies to used cars – it is often impossible to find a car in good condition and in a unique color.
As for the transparent protective film, it simply protects the body. Both clear and colored films can last for years, especially with proper care.
Tesla sells protective film for at least 480 thousand rubles
Tesla only sells the protective film for the Model 3 and Y. The prices are fixed in both cases, despite the fact that they are different cars. In addition, they include the material itself and the work.
Transparent film costs $5,000 (480 thousand rubles). It is available in glossy and matte versions.
Color film will cost $7500-8000 (726-775 thousand rubles) depending on the color. There are 7 colors available to choose from, all of them look interesting.
Such a high price, even by American standards, is explained by the fact that Tesla sells polyurethane film, not vinyl.
Vinyl – thin and cheap material that is easier to work with. It is no longer intended for protection, but to change the appearance.
Polyurethane – thicker and more expensive than vinyl. In most cases – transparent glossy or matte; color options are not widespread and are expensive. These films are designed primarily for protection and can self-heal, for example by removing minor scratches when exposed to heat.
You can cover a Tesla with film only after purchase. The service is sold separately and is not available in the configurator. This means that existing Model 3 and Y owners can take advantage of it, but only for the 2023 model year.
For now, the service is available at two Tesla service centers in Los Angeles. At the same time, at the moment it is unknown who exactly is doing the wrapping: Tesla itself or some partner to whom the car is being delivered.
If we return to the price, opinions among fans and owners are divided. Some believe that the price tag is normal for California. However, it may cost less in other states.
Among users Reddit there were many who consider the price to be very high, especially considering the cost of the Model 3 and Y. Pasting with color film will cost about 20-25% of the price of a new car.
I have a feeling that price is a psychological factor. By this I mean that people in the US may view it as a “free film” due to the tax advantages of buying a Tesla. Or Tesla just really likes high margins. 7.5 thousand is crazy.
I’d pay 8k if there was a lifetime warranty, meaning they will fix damage regularly for as long as you own the car. But I have no idea how long the films last or what warranties third-party companies offer, if any.
In addition, since the service only appeared this week, no one has had time to test it yet. Future buyers cannot yet appreciate the quality of work, which Tesla is not always famous for.
The advantage of this approach is its simplicity. The owner of the car only needs to pay for the purchase in the application, and then take it to the service center on the selected date and wait a few days. There is no need to look for a studio on your own, study the types of film and monitor the quality of the pasting. Plus, Tesla will probably offer some kind of warranty, although nothing is said about this on the company’s website.
Other automakers do not apply films
Audi, BMW, Mercedes, Porsche and Land Rover do not offer this service, even for the most expensive cars.
In their configurators you can only choose a different color. The price tag depends on the car and the company. For example, a non-standard color for a BMW i4 (a competitor to the Model 3) costs $650-3600 (63-350 thousand rubles).
Of the series manufacturers, Porsche offers the most unusual paint options. For $30 thousand (2.9 million rubles), the company can paint the electric Taycan in any color the buyer desires. But this is an exception to the rule.
In most cases, additional and exclusive colors from other manufacturers are cheaper than Tesla films. However, these are different services and works. The painting of the car is carried out at the production stage, and the wrapping is done after the sale.
And even in the case of a Porsche, the color for 2.9 million rubles will not be protected in any way, and in order to preserve it, you will still have to apply a film.
Why does Tesla need this and what does Cybertruck have to do with it?
At first glance, protective film is another way to make money for the company. And this is certainly true, especially since many owners of new cars apply film. Although it is strange that the service is not available for Model S and X, which cost much more and would likely have higher demand among Model S/X owners than Model 3/Y.
Either way, it’s a Tesla-style approach. The company was one of the first to start selling cars online, as well as updating all car settings remotely, without visiting service centers.
A Tesla customer doesn’t have to delve into the world of film or search for the perfect studio. It’s easier for him to pay a fixed amount online, hand over the car and pick up the finished one, without going into the details of the process.
There is another theory: Tesla is testing a service that will be primarily in demand among Cybertruck owners.
Tesla’s electric pickup truck is already in production and will go on sale soon. Its body is entirely made of stainless steel, which is not covered with anything and has its natural gray color, which is not actually a car color, because it is not paint.
Elon Musk back in 2020 statedthat Cybertruck owners will be able to cover the body with film if they want to get a different color.
In 2021 Mask wrote, that “Cybertruck can be any color you want, as long as it’s not.” Obviously, this is a reference to the famous Henry Ford quote: “The car can be any color, as long as it is black.”
The easiest way for Tesla Cybertruck owners is to cover the car with film, because stainless steel is very difficult to paint.
Therefore, the theory that Tesla is testing a service on Model 3 and Y that was originally intended for the Cybertruck has the right to life. If we assume that this is true, then the company will now be able to fine-tune the logistics and production processes so that by the time Cybertruck sales start, owners can easily wrap the car in a different color.
🤓 Do you want more? Subscribe to our Telegram. Bookmark iPhones.ru Tesla, known for its unconventional approach to selling and servicing cars, has launched a new service – wrapping cars with colored and transparent film. Typically, such work is performed by special tuning studios, and not by car manufacturers. Therefore, Tesla fans are already wondering why the company needs this. We also decided to look into this issue. The film protects the body and also changes the appearance. Protective films…
Ilya Sidorov
@ilyasidorov
News editor and author of articles on iPhones.ru.
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