KimTesla has previously recommended service for Model S and X every year or every 20,000 km. For Model 3, the recommended interval has been every 40,000 km. Now Tesla has removed this recommendation and changed it to “when needed”.
This makes sense as electric cars do not have as many wearing parts, and parts that need lubrication. Electric cars also do most of the braking by regenerating energy back to the battery. Therefore, you get less wear on the break discs and pads. Teslas App also keeps track of error messages etc., which may indicate that service is needed, and can therefore notify the owner.
That said, Tesla can also have a different motivation for this change. It has, for a long time, been capacity problems and long waiting time at the service centres. With thousands of new Model 3 on the roads, this can be an easy way to increase capacity, as they can remove the annual (or 20.000 km) service bookings from Model S and X owners.
// Kim
Kim
