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Exclusive: Musk Took Leased Cars Back so Tesla Could Use Them as "robotaxis." Instead, Tesla Sold Them

Tesla prohibited lease customers from buying their vehicles between 2019 and November 2024 in the U.S. To keep them for a planned robotaxi fleet.
This policy aimed to support Elon Musk's claim that these leased cars would join a fully autonomous ride-hailing network expected the following year, though the robotaxis never appeared.
After reversing the policy in November 2024, Tesla upgraded many returned lease vehicles with software features and sold them to new buyers at higher prices.
Used Tesla prices fell 7.6% overall last year, with Cybertruck and Model Y values dropping 46% and 14.1% respectively, while CFO Vaibhav Taneja attributed margin declines partly to lower used car profits.
The policy, though legal, denied lessees standard purchase options and sustained investor expectations of imminent full autonomy, contributing to Tesla's stock rise despite unfulfilled robotaxi plans.

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Reuters

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Quartz

Center

Exclusive: Musk took leased cars back so Tesla could use them as "robotaxis." Instead, Tesla sold them

22 hours ago·United Kingdom

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Times Live

Lean Right

Musk took back leased cars for robotaxis — Tesla sold them instead

Tesla last November ended an unusual policy that prohibited US leasing customers from buying their cars at lease-end.

2 days ago·Johannesburg, South Africa

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www.t-online.de

Lean Left

Decided Customers: Trouble over Leasing Backrunners Triggers Criticism of Tesla and Elon Musk

Because of the sale of leasing vehicles Tesla is again in the crossfire. Apparently the car maker deceived its customers.

2 days ago

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Denver Gazette

Center

Exclusive-Musk took leased cars back so Tesla could use them as "robotaxis." Instead, Tesla sold them

By Chris Kirkham and Abhirup Roy

2 days ago

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hibridosyelectricos.com

There Is a Reason Why These Tesla Clients Are Very Angry with Elon Musk, and It Has Nothing to Do with the CEO's Political Approaches - Hybrids and Electrics

Tesla’s customers have a lot of reason to be unhappy with Elon Musk, CEO of the electric car brand. But there is one in particular that has bothered those who made a leasing contract with a vehicle from the American manufacturer, and who now feel deceived. What happens is that Tesla blocked the option of buying the car at the time for those who made a leasing contract. That is, that after the time established in the document they signed, they wo…

8 hours ago

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elektroauto-news.net

Instead of Robotaxi: Tesla Continues to Sell Leased Vehicles

When the lease expires, lessees generally have the option to purchase their vehicle from the lessor. This is not the case with Tesla in the US: Until November 2024, Tesla leasing customers in the US were not able to purchase their electric vehicles at the end of the lease. The electric car manufacturer introduced the requirement in 2019, arguing that customers could lease the volume Tesla Model 3, but had to return it at the end of the lease so …

10 hours ago

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