Tesla is trying to appease some European leasing companies after the automaker’s repeated cuts in sales prices have driven down the value of their fleets and slow service and expensive repairs have alienated their business customers.
The efforts include unofficial discounts on the purchase of new cars if they are in stock and efforts to address widespread service, repair and order complaints after years in which fleet operators and leasing companies say Tesla has ignored these problems, according to interviews with nine executives from major companies. leasing and car rental companies, together with a dozen fleet managers.
Tesla’s retail price cuts were intended to boost sales in response to declining global demand for electric vehicles and increasing competition, especially from Chinese EV makers such as BYD. But that hurt the results of its biggest customers in Europe, where fleet purchases represent almost half of car sales.
