Tesla has brought back its referral program, but with a difference. The customer rewards scheme, which CEO Elon Musk axed in January, returned on Thursday with the promise of a chance to win a second-generation Tesla Roadster, the supercar set for a dramatic launch next year.
The company explained the new reward scheme in a blog post:
Now, each time a friend purchases a new Tesla using your referral code, you’ll both get 1,000 miles of free Supercharging. Each referral also gives you a chance to win a Founder’s Series Model Y monthly and a Founder’s series Roadster supercar quarterly, both signed by Elon Musk and Franz von Holzhausen. Tesla owners who already have unlimited Supercharging get two chances to win with each referral.
The new scheme is an enticing offer for buyers seeking the ultimate Tesla supercar. The Roadster was announced in November 2017 with dizzying specs like a top speed of over 250 mph, 0 to 60 mph acceleration times of just 1.9 seconds, a 200 kilowatt-hour battery capable of traveling up to 620 miles on one charge, and a sleek design that looks like something out of the future. There’s even the option of a SpaceX upgrade package. The referral scheme takes this one step further, adding Musk’s signature alongside the signature of legendary designer von Holzhausen who brought the concept to life.
Tesla Roadster at Gigafactory.
Musk dropped the original scheme in January, citing high expenses for the company. The old scheme offered freebies like supercharger use and priority access to events, and participants with more than five referrals received a two percent discount on the $250,000 Founders Series edition. The program ran for long enough such that some users earned two entirely free Roadsters.
The new scheme, while perhaps not offering out so many free cars, may last longer through a more sustainable giveaway model.
Tesla Roadster 2020: How to Enter for a Chance of Winning
Entering the competition to win a Tesla Roadster is straightforward. Based on the company’s public instructions, here’s how Tesla owners can enter to win:
- Check that you are eligible to enter. Employees of Tesla, alongside a select few other categories of people, are not allowed to take part.
- Visit your account page on the Tesla website to view your referral code.
- Share the code with friends. Tesla states that while advertising, spam, offering incentives for use or generally annoying people is bad, sharing the code via social media, fan websites or YouTube channels is fine.
- The friend must buy or lease a Model S, X or 3 vehicle. That means a Model Y order and a used vehicle order does not qualify. The referred order must be delivered to qualify.
And that’s it! Note that the friend that uses the code is not entered into the competition, but they do receive 1,000 miles of free use of Tesla’s superchargers. The winner is expected to be announced around July 1, 2019. Unfortunately, as the car isn’t due to hit roads until the following years, winners may have a long wait on their hands.
