The data point is true: Teslas depreciated sharply in 2024, among the worst of any brand that year. But the conclusion — that this proves the cars are unreliable — is misleading, because it gets the cause wrong. The biggest driver was Tesla itself repeatedly cutting new-car prices: when a new Model 3 or Y gets thousands of dollars cheaper, every used one instantly loses value too, regardless of how well it’s built. Add a broader EV-market normalisation, the expiry of certain incentives, and rapid technology improvements, and you get falling resale prices that reflect pricing strategy and market dynamics, not mechanical failure. In fact, lower used prices are good news for buyers, and Tesla’s drivetrains are generally regarded as durable, with very high battery-retention over long mileages. So the depreciation is real, but “proves they’re unreliable junk” is a non sequitur.