In 2021, Elon Musk’s announcement that his successful phone app, Tesla, would soon be available to iPhone users created a buzz of excitement. But the news that he wanted to charge iPhone users $11 in order to download the app hasn’t been received as positively. Many have criticized the high cost, suggesting that it’s both unnecessary and unfair. Now, it looks like the tech mogul is entertaining the idea of changing the sales pitch in order to make it more feasible for potential users.
The Tesla app is used to monitor and control Tesla vehicles, as well as access other associated services. It is an incredibly useful tool, and having it available on an easily accessible platform such as a phone app has been a huge plus for Tesla owners. But when Musk announced that iPhone users would have to pay $11 per download in order to access the app, the response from the community was mixed.
The primary objection is that the app is already free on Android devices. While this could be seen as unfair, it also serves as an example of Apple’s notoriously closed marketplace when it comes to developers. Unfortunately, Apple insisting on charging a fee to developers if they want to access their App Store means that iPhone users have to pay twice if they want to use the same app.
It looks like Musk is aware of the unfairness of the current Tesla app distribution system and is now considering changing the sales pitch. Instead of charging $11 for each app download, he is now looking into having iPhone users pay a one-time fee of $11. With this change, the app would be available for free on both Android and iOS devices, which would be more equitable for users.
The concept of a one-time fee to access Tesla’s app may also offer advantages for the company. A flat fee could provide Tesla with a more reliable stream of income than relying on a downloader-by-downloader strategy. Offering a one-time fee could also turn away less serious customers and encourage serious users to commit.
Ultimately, the decision to switch to a one-time fee is up to Elon Musk, but it certainly looks like he is seriously considering the change in light of the community feedback. While the app’s current sales pitch may have been a mistake, it looks like Musk is determined to make the app access process more equitable and beneficial for both users and Tesla itself.