Tesla Services Teslas With Custom Model S Mobile Maintenance Vehicles

Need to have your Tesla serviced? You may not need to bring it in to your local dealership. Instead the electric automaker will dispatch one of these specially equipped Model S service vehicles.

Autocar reports that 350 of these vehicles are being pressed into service around the world. They’re based on former loaner cars, so the age and powertrain specifications can ostensibly vary from one to another. But their level of equipment is the same.

Some of the tools needed to carry out repairs and maintenance in the field are stored in the frunk, where the floor has been reinforced and the carpeting removed for additional capacity. But the bigger transformation takes place at the other end.

The rear seats on these mobile service units have been removed. In their place, technicians have fitted a sliding shelf to mount tools like an air compressor, power-tool charger, even a coffee machine. The rack mounts to the existing seat anchors, minimizing the need for modification.

The conversion process reportedly takes a few hours to compete, and is topped off with a special livery to identify these as service vehicles. Owners of Tesla vehicles can call for them via the company’s mobile app, and are dispatched within 72 hours.

We gather that Tesla has chosen the Model S as the basis for these service units because it’s produced more of those than any other model. But we could easily see Model 3s and Model Xs being dispatched in similar fashion in the future. We wouldn’t count on seeing any Roadsters (new or old) being outfitted in the same way, though.