A 72-year-old billionaire, John Caudwell, sharply criticized Tesla after his Model X, worth around $109,600, suffered a catastrophic failure on the day the four-year warranty expired.
Caudwell, who made his fortune with Phones4U, reported on X that, even when fully charged, the car wouldn’t work. He highlighted his frustration with Tesla’s customer service, which requires using an app for support and offered a three-week wait for in-person assistance, or the option of arranging an expensive specialized transport to take the vehicle to the dealership.
The failure was attributed to the 12-volt auxiliary battery, which is not covered by the extended eight-year battery warranty.
Due to the lack of adequate support, Caudwell and his team resolved the issue on their own by externally recharging the drained battery. Although he stated that he has always appreciated Tesla’s innovations and eco-friendly performance, the billionaire revealed that this experience has ruined his perception of the brand.
The Model X, one of Tesla’s most sophisticated vehicles, is known for its unique design, a range of up to 576 km, and advanced entertainment features. However, Caudwell warned that Tesla needs to improve its services to compete with emerging rivals such as the Chinese brand Xpeng, which promises to bring affordable and highly technological electric vehicles to the market in the coming weeks.
Source: The Sun | Photo: X @JohnDCaudwell | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team