Hi guys. I've longed for a Tesla since the unveiling of the first Roadster and can't wait until a used Model S/3 comes into my price range.
In terms of inventory, I think it's pretty simple. As much as we'd love to believe conspiracies, the reality is that generally corporate incompetence is usually the answer. The horror stories of the used purchasing process from others clearly shows that it's a highly disorganized process to say at the very least. This is what happens when no one is watching the bottom line on every transaction.
The real question isn't why Tesla isn't selling MORE used Teslas, it's why are they selling them AT ALL. You KNOW that a guy like Musk has to hate the early Model S's with a passion. Pre-AP1s with NO autonomous functions what so ever? AP1s made with ONLY one camera and a radar developed by those XXXX at MobileEye? You know he'd just love to crush every single one of those cars and get people into the latest version. People who haven't upgraded to the latest UI? Grr! Cars with those "crappy" earlier designs? Blah!
My bet is that Musk was pressured into doing the CPO route and/or maybe he had a different thinking from it. When whatever went wrong with that process (I honestly haven't followed it to know) which turned it into a "Used" process, you can envision the discussion - "we have to give them something if we aren't going to have history available of the vehicle, etc, etc, so just slap a warranty on it. 4 years for newer ones, 2 years for older ones.
But now, I'm betting it's being a PITA for them. They are realizing that the the 4 year warranty which extends the factory warranty by 3 years in some cases now has consumers realizing that its very appealing and directly competing with new cars. I mean, in the past, I've always wanted to get a fully loaded, brand new Model S, but now I realize how much depreciation is there and how I could get one just a few years old for half the cost. Others will think that too.
The 2 year warranty vehicles are probably becoming losing transactions for Tesla too. Think about it. Those 2013s have been out of the factory 4 year warranty for quite awhile now and probably have a whole ton of problems where it isn't a critical failure, but needs to be fixed but wasn't fixed because of cost. I bet as soon as they are sold to their new owners, they are going back to the shop for TPS and door handle issues and new DUs and such. Heck, if I were to get one, you'd bet your butt that I'd get anything that could possibly be replaced to be replaced with the latest revision.
My prediction? Within 2 years, Tesla will stop selling Used altogether.