Tesla puts colored films on the car for a lot of money. Fans are unhappy, and the Cybertruck is to blame

Tesla, known for its unconventional approach to selling and servicing cars, has launched a new service – wrapping cars with color and transparent film.

Typically, such work is performed by special tuning studios, and not by car manufacturers. Therefore, Tesla fans are already wondering why the company needs this.

We also decided to look into this issue.

Body protection film, and also changes the appearance

Protective films are nothing new in the automotive market. Many car owners want to protect the body of their car from chips, scratches, reagents and other external influences, so they glue a transparent protective film.

If for this purpose a change in appearance is made, then a colored film is glued. With its help, you can change the color of the car without completely repainting it and get the same properties of the belt.

A natural question arises: if you cannot change the color, then why should you choose the right one at the purchasing stage? The fact is that manufacturers provide a limited number of colors, so the desired color or its result simply cannot be provided in the configurator. The same applies most of all to used cars – it is often impossible to find a car in good condition and in a unique color.

As for the transparent protective film, it simply protects the body. Both transparent and colored films can be stored for years, especially with proper care.

Tesla sells protective film for at least 480 thousand rubles.

Tesla only sells the screen protector for Models 3 and Y. Side indicator prices even though they are different vehicles. In addition, they include the material itself and the work.

Transparent film costs $5,000 (480 thousand rubles). It is available in glossy and matte versions.

Color film will cost $7500-8000 (726-775 thousand rubles) depending on the color. There are 7 colors available to choose from, all of them look interesting.

This high price, even by standards, is due to the fact that Tesla sells polyurethane film, not vinyl.

Vinyl – a thin and effective material that is easier to work with. It is no longer intended for protection, but to change the appearance.

Polyurethane – thicker and higher vinyl. In most cases – transparent glossy or matte; color options are not widespread and are expensive. This film is created primarily for protection and can self-heal, for example, remove the smallest particles when exposed to heat.

You can cover Tesla with film only after purchase. The service is sold separately and is not available in the configurator. This means that Model 3 and Y holders can already use it, but only for the 2023 model year.

For now, this service is available at two Tesla service centers in Los Angeles. At the same time, at the moment it is unknown who exactly is doing the wrapping: Tesla itself or some partner who is transporting the car.

If it comes to a price, then Opinions among fans and owners are divided. Some people think that the price tag is normal for a municipality. However, it may cost less in other states.

Among Reddit users, there were many who consider the prices to be very high, especially considering the cost of the Model 3 and Y. Pasting with color film costs about 20-25% of the price of a new car.

I have a feeling that price is a psychological factor. That being said, I believe people in the US may view it as a “free film” due to the tax benefits of buying a Tesla. Or Tesla just really loves my Margin. 7.5 thousand is crazy.

I would pay 8 thousand if there was a lifetime warranty, meaning they will regularly cover technical damage while you are not using the car. But I don’t mean how long does the exposure of the film last and what warranties are provided by third party companies, if any.

Additionally, since the service only launched this week, no one has had a chance to test it yet. Future buyers cannot yet evaluate the quality of work, which Tesla is not always famous for.

The advantage of this kind lies in its simplicity. The owner of the car needs to pay for the purchase only in the application, and then drive it to the service on the selected dates and a few days later. There is no need to look for a studio on your own, study the types of film and monitor the quality of the pasting. Plus, Tesla will probably offer some kind of protocol, although nothing is said about this on the company’s website.

Other automakers do not apply film

Audi, BMW, Mercedes, Porsche and Land Rover do not provide such services even for the most expensive cars.

In their configurators you can only choose a different color. The price tag depends on the car and the company. For example, a non-standard color for a BMW i4 (a competitor to the Model 3) costs $650-3600 (63-350 thousand rubles).

Porsche series manufacturers offer the most unusual paint options. For $30 thousand (2.9 million rubles), the company can paint the Taycan in any color the buyer desires. But this is a conclusion from the rules.

In most cases Additional and exclusive colors from other manufacturers are cheaper than Tesla films.. However, these are different services and work. The painting of the car is carried out at the production stage, and the wrapping is done after the sale.

And even if the Porsche color for 2.9 million rubles is not protected in any way in order to preserve it, there are still consequences for gluing the film.

Why do we need Tesla and why Cybertruck?

At first glance, protective film is another way to make money for the company. And this is certainly true, especially since many owners of new cars apply film. Oddly enough, though, the service is not available on the S and X models, which cost much more, and there was probably more demand among S/X owners than the 3/Y.

Either way, it’s Tesla style. The company was one of the first to start selling cars online, as well as updating all car settings remotely, without visiting service centers.

Tesla’s client doesn’t have to delve into the world of film or search for the perfect studio. It’s easier for him to pay a fixed amount online, hand over the car and pick up the finished one, without going into the details of the process.

There is another theory: Tesla is testing a service that will be primarily in demand among Cybertruck owners.

Tesla’s electric pickup truck is already in production and will go on sale soon. His body is made of stainless steel, nothing is covered up and he says the color is gray, which is not really a car color because it is not paint.

Elon Musk said back in 2020 that the owner of a Cybertruck would be able to cover the body with film if he at least got a different color.

In 2021, Musk wrote that “Cybertruck can be any color you think, as long as it isn’t.” This is obviously a reference to Henry Ford’s famous quote: “A car can be any color as long as it is black.”

The easiest way for Tesla Cybertruck owners is to cover the car with film, because stainless steel is very difficult to paint.

Therefore, the theory that Tesla is testing Model 3 and Service Y, originally intended for the Cybertruck, has the right to life. If we assume that this is true, then the company will now be able to fine-tune the logistics and production processes so that by the time Cybertruck sales begin, the owner can easily wrap the car in a different color.