You can now order a Tesla directly from the Tesla app

You can now buy a new Tesla directly from the Tesla app

Not a Tesla App

Want to buy a Tesla? There's an app for that. Sorry, but the old catchphrase still rings true. Apple introduced us to the world of Apps in 2009 with a marketing campaign around that slogan. The commercial also said there is an app for just about anything. Fast forward 13 years, and you can add buying a Tesla to the list.

For a company that has never spent a dime on advertising, its marketing continues to dominate. When Tesla announced that it would allow non-Teslas access to its vast Supercharger network, it also gave thousands of electric vehicle owners a reason to download the company's app. That allows Tesla access to countless warm leads. These people already have EVs and now have Tesla's logo on their phones. They will have to open the app to use the charging station, and while waiting, maybe they want to look at the other features in the app. Until recently, you could buy a hat, a shirt or a mug, but now you can buy a Tesla.

Tesla pushed out a server-side update that includes a new button that simply says Order Now, Shop for a new car. It's that easy. The Four Ps are popular marketing methods, product, price, place and promotion.

This small addition to the app hits every P. The product speaks for itself as a trailblazer in the EV sector. The price is market tested, and clearly, it's right because the vehicles are in high demand. The place is how you get your product in front of buyers, well, this app is right in the buyer's hands. Promotion is how the product is advertised. For this, all people have to do is look around at the charging station and all the Teslas there while enjoying one of the more than 35,000 Supercharger stations.

Not only is Tesla getting electric vehicle owners to consider its product, but the company also has direct access to its existing fans. Perhaps you are sitting there with your Model 3 and spot a shiny red Model Y with turbine rims. Maybe you want that model next time you are in the market. You think, I'll look it up when I get home. Now you can look it up right there on the spot. With just one tap, you're on to the model and down the rabbit hole.

The process is the same as the website with its incredibly simplified buying process. After you pick the model, you choose the exterior color and the wheels, then it's the interior color and your choice if you want Enhanced Autopilot and Full Self Driving. It's remarkably simple and oh, so easy to order, almost too easy!

Tesla Adds Interest-Free Payment Plan to Tesla Shop - FSD Payment Plan Next?

Not a Tesla App

Tesla has added payment plan options to its shop items for the first time. They’ve partnered with Klarna, a deferred payment provider, to spread the cost of items across multiple payments. For now, this appears to be limited to the Tesla Shop in the United States—no support for other regions quite yet.

Payment Options

Klarna’s primary payment option allows buyers to get 0% APR for 6 weeks, with 4 payments. The payment schedule is essentially one payment every two weeks for whichever product you buy - enabling you to buy now, and pay later with 0% financing.

For example, the payment schedule for the $420 Wall Connector is evenly divided into four portions. Of course, you’d also have to pay for shipping and taxes, both of which will be included in your first payment.

For some of Tesla’s more expensive Shop options - like the Cybertent, this could be a fantastic means for some owners to pick up something more expensive without having to worry about interest charges on their credit card.

Klarna also offers some other payment schedules, which do have interest. While these are far more expensive and are more like credit cards, they still provide buyers a means to buy now and pay over time. These are all open loans as well, so you can pay them down at a faster rate, thereby reducing the overall interest.

FSD Payment Options?

We’d love to see an equivalent payment option available for Tesla’s FSD purchase, which is currently $8,000, even if it's bought after the vehicle purchase. The high upfront cost is likely one reason why Tesla’s FSD subscription is so popular.

It’s likely that purchasing FSD is much more popular at the time of vehicle purchase, as owners can roll the cost of FSD into their financing rather than paying the full $8,000 later on.

IPO Filing

Interestingly enough, along with today’s news that Klarna is working with Tesla, Klarna has also filed for an IPO in the United States. It is one of the first financial tech (FinTech) companies to file for an IPO in 2025 and, interestingly, one of the first European companies to conduct an IPO in the United States.

For those who trade in the financial sector, this will be one to watch—Klarna was valued at around $46 billion in 2021 and is now valued at approximately $15 billion. Partnering with a large and well-known brand like Tesla could uplift Klarna, but that’s all financial speculation.

Follow

Follow

Follow

A Look at Tesla's Beach Buggy Racing Leaderboards – Supercharger Edition

Not a Tesla App

Earlier this year, Tesla released a update for its Beach Buggy Racing 2 game in update 2024.20, which brought a new leaderboard feature to the game.

Grab your wheel, and step on the accelerator, because it's time to take a look at Tesla’s updated Beach Buggy Racing 2 – Supercharger Edition.

Supercharger Leaderboards

Tesla introduced Supercharger Leaderboards to the game, which means anytime you’re at or near a Supercharger site, you can open up Beach Buggy Racing, and compete against other real people in a local leaderboard. Leaderboard are time-based, so that you’re able to compete against other drivers even if there’s no one else currently at the Supercharger.

Leaderboards are available for each track and are location specific, meaning that all Supercharger locations have their own unique leaderboard.

When you arrive at a Supercharger Tesla will prompt you to play Beach Buggy Racing and take a stab at the Leaderboards, but you don’t actually need to be charging to play. All the game requires is that your vehicle is physically at the Supercharger location.

So far, there are no global leaderboards, but competing with fellow Tesla owners at your local Supercharger offers a fun way to pass the time during a 15-minute charge.

Vehicle Colorizer

Not a Tesla App

One lesser known feature of Beach Buggy Racing is that changing your vehicle’s on-screen color through Tesla’s Colorizer will also change the way your vehicle looks in Beach Buggy Racing. It’s a neat little easter egg, but it's all the small details that count. The paint style options apply as well – so Solid, Matte, and Metallic also all reflect in the game.

How to Play Beach Buggy Racing

There are a few ways to play Beach Buggy Racing, and Tesla has thought of everything for this specific game.

You can open up the game from Tesla Arcade when the vehicle is in Park. You have three control options – using the touchscreen, using a Bluetooth or USB controller, or using your vehicle’s steering wheel.

If you’re using the steering wheel, keep in mind that unless you’ve got a Cybertruck with Steer-by-Wire, your actual wheels will also turn. This can add some flat spots to your tires if you play excessively. We recommend using a controller or the touchscreen. Keep in mind that if you’re playing with the vehicle’s steering wheel, you actually use the Brake pedal to accelerate, not the real accelerator pedal.

The author recently took first place at the Leaderboards for the Supercharger in Scarborough, so if you’re in Toronto anytime, feel free to challenge my score! If you’re a leaderboard holder, come let us know where you took first place in the forums.

Follow

Follow

Follow