By CCN Markets: Tesla CEO Elon Musk wasn’t fazed by Warren Buffett’s discouraging words on the EV maker potentially getting into the auto insurance business.
Tesla announced this week that it would do just that, beginning in its back yard: California.
Tesla Insurance launches today in California to offer better rates for Tesla owners.https://t.co/rDjbEvBxzY
— Tesla (@Tesla) August 28, 2019
In the off chance your Tesla explodes, there’s now insurance for that
Tesla has suffered repeated public relations fiascos thanks to high-profile crashes involving its controversial Autopilot system. The latest was in August when a Model 3 blew up not once, but twice, in Moscow.
There’s now insurance for that, direct from the auto company itself! Moreover, Tesla claims it will be able to offer insurance plans at massive discounts compared to other insurers.
That seems to be inconceivable to insurance industry players who’ve pointed out the rates to insure Tesla EVs tend to be higher than for other automakers.
Source call! I’m looking for Tesla drivers in Calif. willing to check their rates on the new Tesla insurance page, and compare to their existing one, then hit me back with the rates. (Are they really 30% better than what others offer?) Hollah! Thanks.
— Lora Kolodny (@lorakolodny) August 28, 2019
The main culprit for the higher insurance rates relates to the cost of Tesla replacement parts. In May, AutoNews reported the Tesla Model S is the 15th-most costly vehicle to insure, with an average annual premium of $3,300.
Warren Buffett’s warning to Elon Musk goes unheeded
It’s not every day that you hear Warren Buffett weigh in on companies that aren’t in his Berkshire Hathaway portfolio.
However, he chimed in on Tesla earlier this year, warning the auto company – and Elon Musk – that launching an insurance business would likely prove to be a losing gambit.
“The success of the auto companies getting into the insurance business is probably as likely as the success of the insurance companies getting into the auto business,” he quipped.
It bears pointing out that one-third of Berkshire Hathaway’s business is in insurance. Berkshire’s portfolio includes Geico, the second-largest US auto-insurer.
It’s of little surprise that Musk moved forward with Tesla Insurance. He’s rarely stirred by pundits and criticism, as demonstrated by his retort to Buffett’s warning:
Order online in 2 mins, 7 day return policy https://t.co/46TXqRrsdr https://t.co/K1eyiY2qTX
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 4, 2019
That’s a direct quote from Warren Buffett
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 4, 2019
Buffett has yet to publicly comment on Tesla’s decision to spurn his advice.