Next-gen REAR seats no longer available for new orders, please post feedback on yours

[NorCalSJ]

I sent my Delivery Experience Specialist the below email this morning and he answered in 45 minutes.

My Email:
I read on the Tesla Forum of possible changes to the rear Next Generation Seats.
It was my understanding when I made the upgrade, I would be receiving front and rear new Generation Seats. I would not be happy receiving the standard rear seat that have a mismatched appearance and different stitching patterns.
Please confirm I will receive my vehicle with front and rear new Generation Seats.

His reply:
Thanks for reaching out. I can confirm that you will be given the option to receive the rear next-generation seats. You will receive a phone call from our inside sales team in the next week to confirm your choice. The reasoning behind discontinuing the rear seats was due to the fact that the rear headrests were too large and prevented the seats from folding flat, and they tend to block the rear window.
All the best,

 

[rns-e]

I don;t think anybody should not get the NG back seats based on the "folding issue". I do not see any difference between the old and the ones. The folded down seats where always higher than the trunk. I realized that badly when I tried to sleep in the trunk ! Again here is a photo of my NG back seat folded. Go out to your car and let me know if that looks different !

View attachment 69249

It does not like a issue with the headrest preventing the flat folding, nor the side support, as the top corner of the back touches the outer corner of the seat. The should just make the seat fold up so the back can lay flat, but then the headrest is a problem

 

[Andyw2100]

I sent my Delivery Experience Specialist the below email this morning and he answered in 45 minutes.

My Email:
I read on the Tesla Forum of possible changes to the rear Next Generation Seats.
It was my understanding when I made the upgrade, I would be receiving front and rear new Generation Seats. I would not be happy receiving the standard rear seat that have a mismatched appearance and different stitching patterns.
Please confirm I will receive my vehicle with front and rear new Generation Seats.

His reply:
Thanks for reaching out. I can confirm that you will be given the option to receive the rear next-generation seats. You will receive a phone call from our inside sales team in the next week to confirm your choice. The reasoning behind discontinuing the rear seats was due to the fact that the rear headrests were too large and prevented the seats from folding flat, and they tend to block the rear window.
All the best,

It really sounds like this may be a temporary situation while they go back to the drawing board, so to speak, and slightly redesign the rear Next Generation Seats. I expect before too long they'll once again be offering a "new and improved" rear Next Generation seat. The question is how long that will take, and if that will be the version those of us now due seats will get.

 

[NielsChr]

By the way isn't it a bit hard to see out the rear window with the taller middle headrest on the next gen rears? Hopefully someone with a P85D with the new seats can post a picture so everyone can see how the view looks. Thanks!

I haven't sat in the NG backseats yet. but I did try a demo here in europe wich had the new Classic rear seats.
The new Classic rear seats have higher headrest compared to the old Classic/performance seats, I asume same hight as the NG rear seats.
So headrest hight are the same regardless of you choise of rear seats (NG or new Classic rear seats) - Unless Tesla have changed that and gone back to old style Classic backseats (it might be a difrent storry for US as the higher headrest was added to get a higher rating in EU NCAP crashtest.)


if only they could make the center headrest smaller/same size as the old classic - it would help a lot.

 

[yobigd20]

Tesla is contradicting themselves.

First, there's no issues with the seats not folding all the way. They fold the same as the old gen. The difference is negligible. We can even see that in the pictures here.

I call ********.

Second, while their excuse of the headrest being to high is VALID , the new v1.5 non-nextgen style headrests now have the same height (if not even higher) than the next gen. Thus choosing old style now will have the same damn issue.

So their second point is also moot and I call ******** squared.

Tesla REALLY screwed the pooch in this one. How hard is it really just to tell the truth, really. They're not fooling anyone here.

 

[Andyw2100]

How hard is it really just to tell the truth, really. They're not fooling anyone here.

Actually, assuming you are correct, they are probably fooling lots of people. They may not be fooling very many of us well-informed crazies who live and breathe the TMC forums, but how about the casual Model S purchaser, who doesn't even understand which stall to use at a supercharger? My guess is that the calls being made fool those people pretty easily.

 

[gpetti]

I was told by my DS that the [FONT=&amp]next gen seats have about a 30° slope when folded. This seems more than the pictures show but I guess its possible.

My car has already started building so I haven't received the call. Apparently my car is still "in paint" so I think the next step is assembly? I'm not sure what if anything to read into the lack of a phone call when they could potentially still choose which seats to install.
[/FONT]

 

[yobigd20]

I was told by my DS that the [FONT=&amp]next gen seats have about a 30° slope when folded. This seems more than the pictures show but I guess its possible.

My car has already started building so I haven't received the call. Apparently my car is still "in paint" so I think the next step is assembly? I'm not sure what if anything to read into the lack of a phone call when they could potentially still choose which seats to install.
[/FONT]

30 degrees is significant. The photos we've seen are nowhere near that. 10, MAYBE, If that. Probably less. Sounds like another warped exaggeration or BS line. Besides, once again, a 30 degree slope would NEVER have passed any legitimate design review anyway. Nobody at Tesla is that stupid to approve 30 degrees and allow it through to full production. I'm sure the next gen seats needed sign off too, probably as high as Elon himself. He or anyone that high just wouldn't approve that. Keep digging! lol

 

[mastaace]

My P85D has next gen seats, front and back. The difference in visibility is really not a big deal for me and to be honest, I have not even noticed it. The rear next gen seats are comfortable. The front next gen seats are awesome and very supportive, there is no sliding in the seat. I have folded down the rear seats and they seem fine, I hardly notice they don't fold perfectly flat. I am not sure what the big deal is about them not folding perfectly flat, and I have yet to see a customer complain about this on the forum.

For all of you thinking about cancelling due to the return of the seat fiasco, I urge you to reconsider. This is, by far, the most amazing car I have ever driven or owned. I don't think I can own another car after driving this one. I get it, we missed out of certain features based on poor communication and the roll out of the P85D was not one of Tesla's shining moments. I live in freezing Wisconsin, and I missed out on the heated steering wheel...but I have not even thought about it since delivery while driving this beast (except when I read the forums). With preheating the car, the steering wheel temperature is not even an issue. I drive 140 miles per day in the freezing cold (uphill both ways, LOL) and certainly see less than promised range even for these conditions, but I wake up every morning looking forward to drive this car. This is the first time I am grateful for having a long commute. Sorry for going off on this tangent, but I urge you not to miss the forest for the frozen trees.

 

[AndreS]

Same here. Thanks. There are two pieces of data I'd like:

1/ Feedback from someone with NG rears who has kids of booster seat age. Car seats will clearly be a problem. Boosters may be ok, at least booster seats with narrow bases.

2/ What the real story is from Tesla. If it's a safety issue or something similar then tell me. Don't allow me make a poor choice.

3/ Ok, I lied- 3 things. If Tesla is going to build yet another new version rear seat without bolsters that matches the front NG seats, tell me. I might decide to wait and accept that seat.

I dont really see why car seats will be a big issue?

 

[mindsweeper]

Could this be the way Tesla is planning to get rid of all the 1 gen back seats that they have put into already delivered P85D's for the US market? When they start retrofitting those cars to next gen as promised, what would they do with all the 1 gen seats they take out? Scrap them? I don't think so...

So it could have nothing to do about folding or headrests, but simply a way to keep the cost of the retrofit down to a minimum since they had to start shipping the cars before next gen was ready.

 

[andrewket]

I dont really see why car seats will be a big issue?

The base of many car seats are wider than the space provided between the bolsters. If you have two in the back, each side borrows a little space from the center seat.

 

[David_Cary]

So I ordered but did not finalize yet. I emailed my DS and he states that I can have the rear next gen seats. This was a very pleasant surprise.

I think this communication thing is pretty important. While obviously, most Model S purchasers are not as crazy as we are, I suspect a fairly large percentage look at forums before they purchase even if they never even register. Now that percentage might still only be 30% even for Tesla, but not an insignificant number.

 

[grahamsimmonds]

UK reservation of a P85D due for delivery in June. Got "the call". Very short. The guy asked if I wanted to change my order from Next Gen Rear seats to standard. I said no I would like to stick with the Next Gen rears. Thank you he said. Apparently nobody in the UK has changed their order and all want the Next Gen seats.

So what on earth is all the fuss about? It strikes me that Tesla are in the midst of an enormous communication exercise to reassure everyone with existing orders that they will get what they ordered and they are to be commended for that. To claim that Tesla don't communicate with their customers could not be further from the truth. They just don't get involved with forums.

I suspect that this is nothing more than one or two early P85D deliveries where the customer has thrown their toys out the pram because the seats did fold down completely flat. I have a had a succession of Audi cars, all of which have had bolstered back seats and guess what? None of them lie flat either! Has it ever been a problem? No!

I love these forums and they help pass the time waiting for my car. However, I do think that when a thread turns into a train wreck like this one has, my advice to those who are getting themselves into a tizz would be to switch off their computers and go and talk to their wives/children instead. As long as you do not go on about Teslas, I am sure they would enjoy the attention. Then when you log on again you will find that whatever issue was upsetting you has been resolved and you will be able to move on.

 

[darthy001]

UK reservation of a P85D due for delivery in June. Got "the call". Very short. The guy asked if I wanted to change my order from Next Gen Rear seats to standard. I said no I would like to stick with the Next Gen rears. Thank you he said. Apparently nobody in the UK has changed their order and all want the Next Gen seats.

So what on earth is all the fuss about? It strikes me that Tesla are in the midst of an enormous communication exercise to reassure everyone with existing orders that they will get what they ordered and they are to be commended for that. To claim that Tesla don't communicate with their customers could not be further from the truth. They just don't get involved with forums.

I suspect that this is nothing more than one or two early P85D deliveries where the customer has thrown their toys out the pram because the seats did fold down completely flat. I have a had a succession of Audi cars, all of which have had bolstered back seats and guess what? None of them lie flat either! Has it ever been a problem? No!

I love these forums and they help pass the time waiting for my car. However, I do think that when a thread turns into a train wreck like this one has, my advice to those who are getting themselves into a tizz would be to switch off their computers and go and talk to their wives/children instead. As long as you do not go on about Teslas, I am sure they would enjoy the attention. Then when you log on again you will find that whatever issue was upsetting you has been resolved and you will be able to move on.

Have you not read the posts where Tesla is telling numerous other people the absolute opposite of what you have been told here? Or even worse giving no info whatsoever other than changing the design studio and mytesla-pages?

Personally I was clearly informed, by Tesla, yesterday that all cars after a certain production date would _not_ get the new seats. Other people are getting proactive phone-calls with a choice.

If this is your idea of commendable communication I don't want to see your definition of bad communication practices....


Edit: the woman I spoke to yesterday was even so uncertain that she couldn't answer on the phone if I would get next gen seats or not in the back... So its absurd to commend Tesla on the comms here.

Edit nr2: about the above edit that is for a car that she at the same time said had finished production _before_ the given cut-off date. Even then she had no info on next gen or not.

 

[LostJackal42]

Just got a phone call from Tesla regarding my UK P85D order (June delivery) the lady basically said "We just want to check that you're aware the Next Gen rear seats don't fold down as flat as the normal seats, are you ok with that?" I said yes and she confirmed I would be getting the Next Gen rear seats (as ordered).

I asked about any other future options but she just listed the current available options and said that was all she knew about (I presumed as much but worth asking).

My ideal would be next gen rear set of seats with a smaller middle chair head rest, for increased rear view.

 

[yobigd20]

We just want to check that you're aware the Next Gen rear seats don't fold down as flat as the normal seats, are you ok with that?" .

I like their wording change. It seems they were careful not to say they've been discontinued. I would've pressed them for more info. Has anyone asked if they are being redesigned or if they are switching manufacturers or if the discontinued seats are permanent forever?

Also, has anyone asked if the new executive seats fold down at all? And if they do, what is the angle that they fold?

 

[Forty Creek]

My ideal would be next gen rear set of seats with a smaller middle chair head rest, for increased rear view.

Mine would be that the rear headrests simply fold back when not in use. My wife's CRV has this feature.

 

[Danal]

I also got a proactive communication from Tesla.

In my case, an email. I called the person's number listed in that mail and got voice mail. I did NOT leave a message... and he still called me back a few minutes later, solely based on Caller ID. That's pretty proactive.

He explained that I had a pending order for NG seats, that I would receive them front and back, and that some people did not like the visibility and/or folding in the back, and that I could therefore chose NG front only and enhanced Napa Leather in the back. I told him I'd seen photos of all of this on TMC forum. I asked for overnight to think about it, and he was fine.

I talked to my wife and called him back a few minutes later. We chose NG in front, and regular back. The Tesla person was very interested in why we made this choice. I told him that, for us, this choice is driven EXCLUSIVELY by lack of visibility out the rear view mirror with the NG 'center' back seat. The photos on TMC convinced us that the folding issue was really a non-issue.

We did not discuss price. It simply did not come up.

I will say here (and I'd really never say this to Tesla, although I realize they might read this forum): In my personal opinion, the car is EXTREMELY OVERPRICED. In other words, I realize I'm paying a huge margin to obtain this unique vehicle. Therefore, I'm not going to get wrapped up in whether or not a given option costs a given amount... the total price to get the vehicle, and get it configured the way I want, is what it is. I've gritted my teeth and decided to pay it... so a small change up or down is just not on my radar. I'm getting what I want, and paying the price with open eyes.

 

[grahamsimmonds]

Have you not read the posts where Tesla is telling numerous other people the absolute opposite of what you have been told here? Or even worse giving no info whatsoever other than changing the design studio and mytesla-pages?

Personally I was clearly informed, by Tesla, yesterday that all cars after a certain production date would _not_ get the new seats. Other people are getting proactive phone-calls with a choice.

If this is your idea of commendable communication I don't want to see your definition of bad communication practices....


Edit: the woman I spoke to yesterday was even so uncertain that she couldn't answer on the phone if I would get next gen seats or not in the back... So its absurd to commend Tesla on the comms here.

Edit nr2: about the above edit that is for a car that she at the same time said had finished production _before_ the given cut-off date. Even then she had no info on next gen or not.

darthy001 - it looks like you rang up someone and got the wrong answer. I read your post, compared it to the response everyone else had received and decided whoever you spoke to was misinformed. If I was you, I would ring them back and ask them to check on your particular circumstances.

Had you waited for "the call" like I did, you would have got the same answer as the rest of us. In my view, your complaint is the result of a mistake by one person within Tesla to give the correct answer, not the entire company's failure to communicate.

I am pleased with my interactions with Tesla so far and I did not get forgotten in this latest phone round robin so I am happy. And therefore I would commend Tesla to anyone that asks me for an opinion on their communication skills.