Seems pretty extreme. They wouldn't even give me a chance to use outside financing or just purchase the car cash instead?
As I said, I'm not too concerned about this since the complaints from US Bank are minor (in my view), but on the chance it falls through I'd like to know my options.
Unless this was an inventory car, the $2500 protects Tesla from building a car and then having to sell it to someone else as you configured it.
In the case of a deposit for an inventory car that (presumably) was local, Tesla incurs no costs. They cannot keep that deposit, as this would be "unjust enrichment," a term of legal art that means Tesla, under the circumstances, hasn't done anything (performed).
So the rule is, deposit on an inventory car (that doesn't require transportation) should be refundable under contract law and basic ethics. However, a deposit on a new, custom-built car is not refundable because Tesla, in reliance of your deposit and presumed purchase, actually built a car to your specs.
Totally different scenarios with totally different results.