Tesla extends warranty to five years unlimited kilometres

Tesla Australia and New Zealand has introduced a five-year unlimited kilometre warranty for new vehicles, replacing the previous four-year 80,000km coverage in what the company calls a global first.

The new Basic Limited Vehicle Warranty applies to all new Model 3 and Model Y vehicles delivered from 1 January 2026, covering critical components including corrosion protection, paint durability and multimedia systems.

“Tesla Australia & New Zealand is thrilled to pioneer Global Firsts that redefine the driving experience for our customers – such as launching Full Self-Driving (Supervised) in the world’s first RHD market in 2025, and now introducing a 5-year, unlimited kilometre new vehicle warranty for 2026,” says Thom Drew, Country Director for Australia & New Zealand.

“This update aligns with local market expectations and instils lasting confidence in Tesla ownership.”

The unlimited kilometre coverage applies to vehicles under normal use, while commercial use vehicles will be covered for five years or 150,000km, whichever comes first. Commercial use includes rideshare, taxi, hire, rental, courier, driving school, security, tour or emergency services, or other business applications.

Competitive warranty landscape

The move brings Tesla’s vehicle warranty in line with several premium competitors in the New Zealand market. Mercedes-Benz currently offers five years unlimited kilometres, while BMW and Volkswagen provide five-year coverage with kilometre limits of 100,000km and 150,000km respectively.

Among EV-focused brands, Kia offers seven years or 150,000km on its electric vehicles, while BYD provides six years or 150,000km coverage. Chinese brand Leapmotor offers four years or 100,000km, and Polestar provides three-year coverage.

The warranty upgrade is accompanied by five-year 24/7 roadside assistance across both markets.

Battery warranty unchanged

Tesla’s battery and drive unit warranty remains at eight years or 160,000km for Model 3 and Model Y rear-wheel drive variants, and eight years or 192,000km for long range and performance models. All battery warranties include a minimum 70% capacity retention guarantee.

This battery coverage is consistent with most EV manufacturers in New Zealand, with brands including BYD, Kia, BMW, Volkswagen and Polestar all offering eight-year or 160,000km battery warranties.

Full warranty terms and conditions will be available at Tesla.com/en_au/support/vehicle-warranty and Tesla.com/en_nz/support/vehicle-warranty.