Tesla responded quickly to Consumer Reports’ embarrassing statements about Model S’s mediocre reliability. In a public tweet, and again in a conference call with stock analysts, Elon Musk assured us that most of the early problems with the drive units have been fixed, and that the powertrains now rolling off the line are “excellent.”

The company has raised its target for the drive unit’s lifespan from 200,000 miles to a million miles. “Basically we want drive units that just never wear out,” said Musk.

In an email to customers and enthusiasts, Tesla reiterated its commitment to quality control:

“Close communication between customers, service, and engineering enables us to receive feedback, proactively address concerns and quickly fix issues. Customer feedback in the last three years has helped us increase the reliability of our charging equipment and infotainment system, reduce braking noise and improve the fit and finish of the Model S interior.”

“In the last 12 months alone we’ve decreased reliability issues by half, and improvements have been made at no cost to our owners. If hardware does need to be fixed, we strive to make it painless through our four-year/50,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty (and eight-year/unlimited mileage battery and drivetrain warranty). Even if potential issues have a low likelihood of causing future problems, we fix them. It’s why 97% of Tesla owners expect their next car to be a Tesla.”

Source: Tesla via Electrek