Tesla Launches Car Rental Program - rent a Cybertruck from Tesla in SoCal for $75/day with FSD & Supercharging included

[YDR37]

Update: Tesla has officially launched its Car Rental Program in the U.S.

The San Diego Miramar Tesla Store is now offering short-term rentals of new Teslas. Apparently rentals are also offered in Orange County at the Costa Mesa, California Store.

Cost is reportedly $60/day for Models 3/Y, $75/day for Cybertruck, and $90/day for Models S/X. Rental periods are 3 to 7 days, but the first 48 hours are free. Unlimited mileage, but must stay within California. Unlimited access to FSD (Supervised) V14. Free Supercharging during rental, but a $30 fee applies if the vehicle is not returned with at least 50% charge.

Renters must be 21 years old, with auto insurance and a credit card. If you buy a Tesla vehicle within 7 days after the rental, you can get up to $250 credit, depending on rental duration. Program is currently scheduled to run through December 31, 2025.

Edit: just noticed this topic was previously addressed in another thread, although additional details are now available. Moderator could move this post to that thread if appropriate.

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[Baldyloxx]

I think this is brilliant.. Bravo!

 

[hemiarch]

Fuck yeah. I can start flying again!

 

[CapheDa]

This is so smart. Most Tesla skeptics have never driven one. Most FSD skeptics have never tried it. When it’s cheaper to rent a Tesla than a Camry and fuel is free people will rent the Tesla. As an all-in shareholder, I approve, even if the rental program itself loses some money. Plus most rental companies want you to be 25 but not Tesla. 21.

 

[hemiarch]

Ok. Who knows how to arrange this and actually do it?

 

[YDR37]

Ok. Who knows how to arrange this and actually do it?

You go to one of the web pages below and fill out the form where it says "Sign Up".

San Diego, CA: You Can Now Rent A Tesla from Tesla San Diego Miramar Today

Costa Mesa, CA: You Can Now Rent A Tesla from Tesla Costa Mesa Today

 

[hemiarch]

Spare those the only 2 so far?

 

[YDR37]

are those the only 2 so far?

Those are the only two that I've heard of.

This is so smart. Most Tesla skeptics have never driven one. Most FSD skeptics have never tried it. When it’s cheaper to rent a Tesla than a Camry and fuel is free people will rent the Tesla. As an all-in shareholder, I approve, even if the rental program itself loses some money. Plus most rental companies want you to be 25 but not Tesla. 21.

It seems like a good idea. However, it also seems like Tesla is testing out the rental program on an experimental basis, since it appears to be offered at just two locations, and only through December 31.

If the experiment is successful, then maybe the rental program could become more widely available, but no guarantees.

 

[hemiarch]

Those are the only two that I've heard of.

It seems like a good idea. However, it also seems like Tesla is trying rentals as an experiment, since it appears to be limited to two locations, and only through December 31.

If the experiment is successful, then the rental program could become more widely available, but no guarantees.

Think about the last time you rented from Avis, budget or hertz. Was your cost plus gas close to $60 a day? Did it drive itself? Was it more fun to deal with the counter dude than the Tesla app?
The experiment will be successful.
All tesla is really missing here is the last mile but all that would require is using overflow storage lots they already pay for near airports.
Uber voucher people to the car. Done.
Now, consider what the market cap is of the above mentioned three companies?
Elon is no fool. This is much more than an FSD advertising maneuver.

 

[YDR37]

Think about the last time you rented from Avis, budget or hertz. Was your cost plus gas close to $60 a day? Did it drive itself? Was it more fun to deal with the counter dude than the Tesla app?
The experiment will be successful.

Tesla's criteria for "success" may not be the same as your criteria for "success".

I seriously doubt that Tesla is trying to get into the rental car business. If they take a customer away from Avis, Budget, or Hertz, that is not "success".

Tesla's actual goal here is probably to sell new Teslas. Basically, they are offering potential customers the opportunity to take extended multi-day test drives at a low, subsidized cost. In fact, the cost is potentially zero, because they are offering renters a credit on new vehicle purchases.

Let's say that an existing Tesla owner takes a weeklong vacation in SoCal, flies into SD, takes an Uber to the Tesla Store, and uses the program as an inexpensive alternative to a traditional car rental. But he has no intention of actually buying a new Tesla -- he already has one. From Tesla's perspective, that may be a fail. Their goal is probably to attract new customers, not to provide subsidized rentals to existing customers.

So I think that's why the program is experimental. Tesla knows that the rental terms are attractive -- but they don't know if offering attractive rental options will actually translate into new sales. If the new sales don't happen, the experiment may be deemed unsuccessful.

 

[Shadowmite]

Tesla's criteria for "success" may not be the same as your criteria for "success".

I seriously doubt that Tesla is trying to get into the rental car business. If they take a customer away from Avis, Budget, or Hertz, that is not "success".

Tesla's actual goal here is probably to sell new Teslas. Basically, they are offering potential customers the opportunity to take extended multi-day test drives at a low, subsidized cost. In fact, the cost is potentially zero, because they are offering renters a credit on new vehicle purchases.

Let's say that an existing Tesla owner takes a weeklong vacation in SoCal, flies into SD, takes an Uber to the Tesla Store, and uses the program as an inexpensive alternative to a traditional car rental. But he has no intention of actually buying a new Tesla -- he already has one. From Tesla's perspective, that may be a fail. Their goal is probably to attract new customers, not to provide subsidized rentals to existing customers.

So I think that's why the program is experimental. Tesla knows that the rental terms are attractive -- but they don't know if offering attractive rental options will actually translate into new sales. If the new sales don't happen, the experiment may be deemed unsuccessful.

On the contrary, i think they 100% plan to compete with rental companies, that's essentially what the robotaxi network is, cars you can use for your drives without owning them. They just have to ease people into it, and if they can sell FSD in the process, so be it. This is an excellent move to start easing into the future.

 

[YDR37]

On the contrary, i think they 100% plan to compete with rental companies, that's essentially what the robotaxi network is, cars you can use for your drives without owning them ... This is an excellent move to start easing into the future.

OK, Tesla does want to disrupt the traditional car rental business -- but they want to do it with robotaxis, not by offering another option for traditional car rental. If you just rent a car at the Tesla counter instead of at the Avis counter, that's not "easing into the future".

Think about the last time you rented from Avis, budget or hertz. ... Now, consider what the market cap is of the above mentioned three companies?

Current market cap of Avis Budget Group (CAR) is about $5 billion. Current market cap of Hertz Global Holdings (HTZ) is about $2 billion. The other big player is Enterprise, but they are privately held.

For comparison, the current market cap of Tesla (TSLA) is about $1,450 billion. Traditional car rental is not a business line that is going to move the needle on their valuation.

 

[hemiarch]

I don’t see this as any kind of subsidy. These are vehicles that Tesla already owns and has already spent god knows how much building a maintenance network for. Which are otherwise sitting idle. Any replacement costs are ones they themselves bill for.
In my opinion, it will be very profitable.
It’s also a great way to “fleet up” in preparation for autonomy being legal everywhere without investing in a massive stationary nonprofitable parking lot.

 

[Shadowmite]

I don’t see this as any kind of subsidy. These are vehicles that Tesla already owns and has already spent god knows how much building a maintenance network for. Which are otherwise sitting idle. Any replacement costs are ones they themselves bill for.
In my opinion, it will be very profitable.

Will likely create some jobs for fleet maintenance as well. Which can transition into the same position for the robotaxi network as it opens. This seems perfectly transitory.

 

[hemiarch]

Will likely create some jobs for fleet maintenance as well. Which can transition into the same position for the robotaxi network as it opens. This seems perfectly transitory.

Couldn’t agree more.

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