Tesla dangles cash bonus on top models

Tesla rolled out a new incentive globally allowing buyers to earn extra incentives through referrals from existing customers, a strategy long used by traditional automakers to boost sales.

The cash rebates are applicable in markets including the US, ChinaCanada, the UK, France and Germany, according to Tesla’s regional websites on Friday.

The incentive, which Tesla calls “Refer and Earn” on its websites, is the equivalent to about $500 in cashback to new buyers in the US, who purchase Model 3 and Model Y, as well as three months of its Full Self-Driving feature .

In the UK, buyers using a referral will receive a discount of 1,000 pounds ($1,278.00) on the Model S and Model X starting July 7, the company’s website showed. The discount was for 500 pounds for Model 3 and Model Y.

Legacy automakers have historically used employee and loyalty discounts to lower the sticker price of cars. Tesla up to now has focused on real-time adjustments to prices posted on its website