Tesla's Refer and Earn program connects three groups of benefits: buyer, referrer and loyalty benefits.
Buyer benefits
Buyer benefits are designed for customers purchasing their first qualifying Tesla product through a valid referral link.
Referrer benefits
Eligible Tesla owners can share their referral link with friends. When a qualifying purchase or demo drive meets Tesla's rules, the owner can receive referrer benefits.
Tesla limits order referrals to 10 per calendar year and demo-drive referrals to 30 over the life of the account.
Loyalty benefits
Existing or previous Tesla owners buying another qualifying product with the same Tesla account may qualify for loyalty benefits instead of first-buyer benefits.
Why Tesla uses referrals
The program turns existing owners into a customer-acquisition channel. Buyers get access to whatever benefit Tesla currently offers, owners can earn credits, and Tesla can adjust the program without changing the base vehicle price.
The important practical rule
Referral details change, but one rule remains critical: the purchase must start from the referral link. Tesla does not add the referral after the order has been submitted.
Sources: Tesla Refer and Earn.