Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) recently hid a payment option to buy “Supercharger credits” in the source code on the My Tesla page for Model 3, Model S and Model X owners. The company was quick to revert the change, however, leaving many pondering the real reason for such an update. However, now Electrek has learned some details about Tesla’s objective behind the move.
New Supercharger Credit program soon
Adding a new payment option was understandable for the Model 3 as the EV firm already said that the Supercharger access will be an option for its upcoming car. Currently, the company sells vehicles with free lifetime Supercharger access. So what left everyone perplexed was why the payment option to buy “Supercharger credits” was embedded in the Model S and X My Tesla pages also.
Electrek claims that the company will come up with a new Supercharger Credit program, citing sources familiar with the program. In the new program, the firm will separate the cost of Supercharger access from the vehicle’s cost. Such a move will not only lower the entry cost of the Model S and Model X but will also ensure that the pricing model better reflects the value of the Supercharger network, explains Electrek.
As of now, the amount of the price reduction is not known, but it could be somewhat similar to what Tesla presently charges owners of an original Model S 40/60 to use its Supercharging network, which is $2,500. This year, the EV firm has been looking for ways to lower the cost of the Model S and the Model X, and it appears Supercharger access could be the next move to lower prices. The update may come with the release of OS 8 or 8.1, believes Electrek.
Tesla makes its presence known in Taiwan
In other Tesla news, the automaker opened its first store in Taiwan on Wednesday, thus marking its presence in six Asia Pacific markets – Japan, Mainland China, Australia, Macau, Hong Kong and Taiwan. The automaker also plans to develop a service center and Supercharger network in Taiwan soon, the Taipei Times reported.
During the store opening, Tesla Asia Pacific VP Robin Ren said, “I see a huge opportunity in Taiwan’s market,” citing rising demand for environmentally-friendly, fuel-efficient vehicles in the region and the government’s plan to promote EV development.
At 9:58 a.m. Eastern, Tesla shares were up 0.4% at $201.57. Year to date, the stock is down more than 15%, while in the last year, it is down almost 19%.