Remember - these cars are built on technology - processors, operating systems, and memory. These things go obsolete very quickly. I certainly hope you are right that Tesla will be dedicated to keeping it's cars on the road but decisions they made for cost, convenience, and manufacturing efficiency are counter to longevity. At some point - Tesla will have to replace and update the processors and hardware in the car, these things have a lifespan of years, not decades.
Fully agree but I think it will really depend on what the competition looks like in 2-3 years. If there are reliable Corolla and Civic EVs for $25k then that may impact Model 3 depreciation but there are a lot of variables to consider and no one has a crystal ball.
- Telsa has a Supercharger infrastructure. Game changer. If you are in the market for an EV right now and you want to take a trip who else do you pick?
- Tesla battery, motor, efficiency is way ahead of the competition right now and everyone else is playing catch up.
- Tesla vehicles have a reputation for be fun to drive and they are. A car is depreciating asset anyway, might as well have fun driving it. They also offer RWD vs. FWD for folks that prefer RWD driving dynamics and AWD. I expect many other EVs will be boring FWD economy models, slow and even more boring to drive than their ICE based versions.
- Tesla has now established a brand image and minimalist interior and recognizable look and feel that a lot of folks seem to appreciate. The are known for being innovative and making driving fun again. They are building vehicles that people actually like not just an appliance like a Corolla or Prius.
- They are working on AP/FSD. Even if it is not a reality just yet lots of folks want to be a part of this revolution.
- Continual software updates. I haven't seen any other cars on the market getting OTA updates yet. Maybe just some apps here and there on the infotainment system but nothing of substance.
I thinks the real game changer will be the Model Y and pickup truck since those are what sell the most. SUVs and Pickups. They also guzzle the most fuel so desirable EV versions will be even more in demand.
My biggest gripe at the moment is that I want Tesla to open up the parts ordering and service restrictions. I am fine if they want to skip the dealer network but then they need a lot more service centers then. I also want to be able to go online and order a part if I want to. If I want to replace my OEM brake pads and rotors then I want to go online and click to order and have the option to do the work myself. I hope we get to that point just like with traditional ICE based vehicles.