Paging Mr Musk
There's a brave chap on YouTube who's been rebuilding written-off Teslas. He's had problems in the past with Tesla refusing to supply parts, service manuals etc. Because Tesla control the service chain, accident repairs work out extremely expensive, so cars get written off by the insurers, then picked up as salvage titles. Various US states will happily recertify the vehicles per their legislation.
But he discovered a new challenge. Teslas were fitted with Takata airbags. Those had a manufacturing defect that meant their gas generators also generated shrapnel, which has killed and injured drivers. So naturally there's been a recall. The US mandated this via the NHTSA, and Tesla offered to replace airbags for free.
Except if the cars aren't officially approved vehicles, then Tesla want $1,500 up front to recertify the car. In the video, they claim safety due to high voltages, but there are fuses for that.. As the guy shows in his other vids where he takes out and takes apart battery packs.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8jSZReDOKk
But I suspect this also falls into the kind of vendor lock-in the FTC is trying to prevent. Tesla has to replace the airbags as it's a Federal requirement.
Biting the hand that feeds IT
