Elon Musk: Tesla to increase collision repairs

Tesla CEO Elon Musk.Patrick Fallon / Reuters

• Tesla CEO Elon Musk said on Sunday that the company intends to handle most of its customers’ collision repairs at company-run body shops.
• Tesla customers have used Twitter to vent about long wait times for repairs at outside body shops, with some saying their repairs have been delayed as their body shops wait for parts from Tesla.
• While Musk first suggested that third-party body repair shops were causing the long wait times, he later acknowledged that Tesla was responsible for the slow delivery of parts.
• Tesla did not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding when it will be able to handle the majority of its customers’ collision repairs.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk said on Sunday that the company intends to handle most of its customers’ collision repairs at company-run body shops. 

“Tesla is bringing most collision repairs in-house, as outside firms take weeks to months for repairs, driving Tesla owners (and us) crazy,” he said on Twitter.

Musk then said Tesla was performing some collision repairs within 24 hours and was aiming to eventually complete some repairs in less than an hour. He said the company wants to improve vehicles during repairs by replacing damaged parts with newer parts.

Tesla has nine company-run body shops that can perform “light” collision repairs, according to its website. The company did not immediately respond to a request for comment on when it believes it will be able to handle the majority of its customers’ collision repairs and what percentage of collision repairs it is currently performing in under 24 hours.

Tesla customers have used Twitter to vent about long wait times for repairs at outside body shops, with some saying their repairs have been delayed as their body shops wait for parts from Tesla. While Musk first suggested that third-party body repair shops were causing the long wait times, he later acknowledged that Tesla was responsible for the slow delivery of parts.

“Yeah, that’s our problem. Service & parts supply in general will be the top Tesla priority after we get through the insane car delivery logistics of the next few weeks,” he said.

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