Tesla Website Glitch Leads To Crazy Model Y Deal
On the 1st July 2024, a user on X (formerly Twitter) shared a screenshot of Tesla's website, with a link, that was advertising an absolutely crazy deal on a Personal Contract Hire lease. The tweet, posted by @catchagem_, showed a headline rental of £90 per month. Conducting our own research at the time, we checked that the deal was actually on Tesla's website, and not a phishing or a scam link that one would initially suspect. The Model Y was, in fact, showing on Tesla's website. Not only that, but you were able to customise the payment option and contracted mileage, as well as select options and other Model Y models.
The Tesla Model Y has a list price of £44,990 when selecting the Standard Range RWD model, with Pearl White Paint; 19" Gemini Wheels, and an All Black Premium Interior. So when a deal comes up offering a £45k car for a mere £90 per month, many people jumped at it.
When conducting our own research, we were able to get the monthly price even lower. Basing the figures on a 24 month lease, with a 6 month initial payment and 10,000 miles per year, we were receiving prices of £80 inc VAT per month! Tesla even proudly boasted that once you consider the savings from switching to electric, the car would only cost you approximately £13 per month! To lay them figures out:
Initial Payment: £480 inc VAT
23 Monthly Payment: £80 inc VAT.
If you did not fancy the £480 initial payment, you could even get a monthly figure of £306 inc VAT per month with NO initial payment.
Naturally, people were sceptical but others were willing to take the chance and secure the order for £200 deposit. They quickly received confirmation, an order number, and an order form. Many stated that it was worth the gamble and Elon Musk, the Tesla CEO, has been known to do some crazy things in the past.
However, the dream was short lived as some who continued to proceed through the process to the credit check stage noticed that the correct headline offer figures were displayed by the finance company. In fact, the actual offer was an initial payment of £3,951 inc VAT and £399 inc VAT per month. Still a great deal, but not quite as attractive. The deal was fixed in a matter of hours and Tesla issued email communications to all those who had paid deposits that they would be receiving refunds in the coming days.
Pendle Lease spoke to two people who had placed orders:
Gary:
"When I saw the offer I was doubtful but willing to take the risk. I even decided to pay for the Wall Charger that Tesla were offering at the point of order. I paid a £675 deposit not really expecting the deal to be true. I have been considering getting a Tesla for some time and I have a Cybertruck still on order for many years. Of course it is disappointing, but I didn't really expect anything different."
Scott:
"I had a feeling from the start that this deal was never going to materialise. But for the sake of £200, even if I risked losing it, I was prepared to gamble in case Tesla were forced to honour the deal. I had no desire to order a Tesla and actually have a car at the moment. But if it did turn out to be true, then it was a deal that was impossible to not take advantage of."
So, as the saying goes, if it is too good to be true, then it probably is. Unfortunately, this was one of those things. Tesla have been prompt to responded and are ensuring all deposits are refunded within a few days.
