Tesla cars are the most popular electric vehicles on the market, everybody wants one, but not everyone can afford one. But if you are lucky enough to be one of Tesla’s many employees, you might be wondering if you are entitled to some kind of employee discount if you decide to purchase a car.
Do tesla employees get a discount on cars? No, Tesla employees do not get discounts on cars. However, Tesla employees are able to use accrued Paid Time Off towards a Tesla purchase. There are several other incentives Tesla employees receive as well.
Unfortunately, the only way to buy a new Tesla car at a discounted is to wait a few years until the older model cars come down in price. While it may seem odd, Elon Musk claims he will not give a discount to anyone, not even his family or friends. According to Musk, it is his way of keeping everyone equal and ensuring no one gets priority when a new batch of cars are made.
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Do Tesla Employees Get a Car?
Tesla employees do not get a free car. The logistics of providing every Tesla employee with a car is sadly infeasible. There are simply too many employees in the quickly growing company to be able to provide such a luxury.
In addition, providing employees with personal vehicles would go against Elon Musk’s personal business philosophy of strict equality and would disrupt the shipping of new cars to customers.
However, there are always exceptions to the rule, and while Tesla does not give individual workers a free vehicle, some employees have reported being provided a company car which is to be shared among a group of coworkers. The car can be taken home and used as a personal vehicle but does not belong to the employee and must be returned to company property on a regular basis.
Even though Tesla employees do not get a free or discounted car, they still work closely with them and have access to the various models of electric vehicles. Fortunately, Tesla pays its workers well and if you are lucky enough to be in their employment, you should be able to afford a car in a reasonable amount of time.
How Much Do Tesla Cars Cost?
Tesla cars are amazing examples of innovation that combine the best in computer and automotive technology, but all that bleeding edge technology comes at a great cost to the consumer. If you are in the market for a new car, you might just want to know how much a Tesla costs before you consider buying one.
There are five models of Tesla vehicles
- The original Tesla Roadster
- The Tesla Model S
- The Tesla Model X
- The Tesla Model 3
- The Tesla Model Y
The Roadster
The Tesla Roadster is the first car to be released by Tesla and is no longer offered as a part of their product line up. The Roadster was produced between 2008 and 20011. The car currently retails for a minimum of $43,000 for an early model and goes for a maximum of $80,000 for a later model vehicle.
The Model S
The Model S is the second car produced by the firm. Production began in 2012 and continues to this day. A used early year Model S can fetch as low as $27,000, whereas a new, fully-loaded Model S can retail for upwards of $130,000.
The Model X
Tesla’s Model X is the third car produced by the company, and was the first SUV in it’s lineup. The first Model X cars were delivered in 2016 and the model is still being produced today. The cost of a 2016 Model X hovers around $50,000, but a brand new Model X lists at $120,000.
The Model 3
The Model 3 is fairly recent generation of electric car in Tesla’s product line, and was the first of their “affordable” vehicles. Production began in 2017 and will continue for the foreseeable future. Perhaps the most affordable of the Tesla vehicles, a new Model 3 currently sells at the starting price of around $46,000, and a Performance Model 3 goes for around $63,000.
The Model Y
The Model Y is the latest generation of electric car in Tesla’s product line. It’s Tesla’s take on an affordable mid-size SUV. A new Model Y starts at $65,000, and a Performance Model Y sells at $69,000. The Model 3 and the Model Y share roughly 70% of their parts, so they have very similar aesthetics.
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What Benefits Do Tesla Employees Receive?
While most people would be satisfied simply by the prestige and the paycheck that comes with working for Tesla, there are more reasons for becoming an employee at their company than just money alone. Sadly, Tesla does not hand out free cars to its workers, but there are still plenty of different incentives and benefits that are provided to their staff. A few examples of employee benefits are listed below.
- Paid Time Off Used Towards Tesla Purchase
- Discounts on Company Apparel
- Unlimited Vacation Days
- Discounts on Company Stock
- Comprehensive Health Insurance Plan
1. Paid Time Off Used Towards Tesla Purchase
Even though Elon Musk remains against providing discounts on cars; there are still ways for employees to save money on purchasing a new Tesla. One of those ways is by using accrued paid time off. Employees who want to buy a car can use their PTO to help finance their purchase and potentially save thousands of dollars.
2. Discounts on Company Apparel
Tesla may not give discounts on its cars, but it does give discounts on their company clothing line! As an employee of Tesla Motors, you can buy clothes for the whole family and get a great deal while doing it. They offer everything from beanies, baseball caps, shirts, sweaters, jackets, hoodies, and even clothing for toddlers and young children.
3. Unlimited Vacation Days
For Tesla’s salaried employees, as many vacation and sick days are allowed to be taken as is seen fit by the individual. While it may not be the best idea to take advantage of the unlimited vacation day benefit, employees can at least rest assured that they will not be punished for taking an extended vacation or for being sick at home for longer than usual.
4. Discounts On Company Stock
Investing in the future is always a good idea and Tesla has made it even easier to do so for its workers. Employees at Tesla receive a 15% discount on company stocks twice a year during specific buying periods. As a rising star in the tech industry, such a good discount is hard to beat and is sure to pay off in the future.
5. Comprehensive Health Insurance Plan
Any company worth working for usually provides some form of comprehensive health insurance plan, but Tesla goes somewhat above and beyond, giving their employees a well-rounded and generous insurance package. The plan covers everything from hospital accommodations, medication, travel emergencies, dental, and vision, as well as 17 weeks’ worth of disability pay at 67% of normal wages.
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Learning More About Tesla
Even though Teslas are still prohibitively expensive, for those who can afford to be early adopters, it is worthwhile purchase despite the lack of a discount. If you were unable to find an answer to your question, check out the Tesla website for more information about their employee benefits, product line, and amazing sci-fi electric cars.