JAKARTA Eight years after it was first announced, the Tesla Roadster has returned to the spotlight. Many potential buyers who have ordered the electric sports car are now demanding a refund of an order of 50 thousand US dollars or around Rp. 828 million.
When launched in 2017, the Tesla Roadster was promised as the world's fastest electric car with an acceleration of 0100 km per hour in just 1.9 seconds, a peak speed of more than 400 km per hour, and a distance of more than 960 km in one charge.
Production should have started in 2020, but until now the car has not been sent to consumers. This delay has frustrated many orders. They have deposited an advance of 5 thousand US dollars (Ro82 million) and an additional 45 thousand US dollars (IDR 745 million) to ensure a place in line.
However, after years without clarity, a number of customers admitted that it was difficult to get a refund. In the booking agreement, Tesla stated that the Roadster is still in the development stage, so the company cannot guarantee when the vehicle will be produced or delivered.
In addition, the order fund is not stored in a separate account (escrow), which means Tesla can use the money for the company's internal interests. In writing, Tesla did promise to return the full funds if the order cancels the order.
However, in practice, many have reported that the refund process is not that easy. Some buyers even said they did not find a cancellation button on their Tesla account, while efforts to contact customer service also often failed to produce results.
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Unlike conventional car manufacturers, Tesla does not have a traditional dealers network. All transactions are carried out directly between consumers and the company, as reported by Slashgear, Tuesday, October 21.
This pattern makes customers do not have an intermediary to help take care of claims for refunds or other disputes. The contract also states that every dispute must be resolved through arbitration, not an ordinary legal route.
This makes it increasingly difficult for customers to fight for their rights, including the matter of refunding orders. Until now, Elon Musk as CEO of Tesla has not provided an exact schedule for when the Roadster will be mass-produced.
Although it was claimed that it would be re-launched in 2026 with more extreme performance, most potential buyers seem to be starting to lose confidence.
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