Spanish taxi drivers are watching their Teslas sit idle after their Model Y cars stopped working without warning. For many, that means no income; some have been off the road for months, with no fix in sight.
The affected cars share a pattern: they are Tesla Model Y units built in Berlin and sold since May 2023, all using BYD LFP batteries. Drivers say failures surged this summer, most after fast charging in hot weather. A critical insulation fault leaves the car unable to move, and there is no quick repair.
Fixing the batteries is nearly impossible. They are built into the car and glued under the seats, leaving a full battery replacement as the only option. That takes time and money. Fermín del Castillo, a Madrid taxi driver, has been waiting since August for a new battery and does not expect a solution before November. "I planned to return to work after the holidays on August 20, but I have now been out of service for over a month," he says.
Tesla's battery warranty in Europe typically covers 8 years, though the mileage limit and minimum remaining capacity depend on the specific Model Y version, Elektroauto-News reports. Coverage varies: drivers with less than 160,000 kilometers are covered, yet they still face long waits. Tesla is slow to respond, and batteries are in short supply. Others have already passed that mileage in just over three years and face a hard choice: pay more than €16,000 for a new battery or give up the car. Daniel Aldaya, another Madrid driver, was quoted €16,027 for a replacement. His car is just over three years old and now sits unused, leaving him without income or a solution.
Drivers have launched their own investigation and spoken with engineers at the Berlin Gigafactory. The problem does not seem to lie with the BYD battery itself; the evidence instead points to how the cars are assembled at the Berlin plant. Poor insulation lets in moisture and heat, triggering the fault. Elektroauto-News cites independent industry data showing that Tesla Model Y batteries typically retain about 90% of their capacity even after 150,000 kilometers. The data indicate that sudden failures are not usually caused by natural battery aging, but may result from isolated component defects. The issue is affecting cars with low mileage and less than three and a half years on the road.
Frustration is growing as drivers join forces across Spain and organize for collective action. So far, 25 cases have been counted, with more coming in. They are gathering data and preparing a class-action lawsuit against Tesla. Some are considering selling their taxi licenses because they cannot afford to keep a car that does not run.
The crisis comes as Spain's electric vehicle market changes quickly. Companies such as BYD and Tesla are pushing new models and new ways to build cars. As reported earlier, production is speeding up and more electric taxis are hitting the streets, but these battery failures show how fragile the shift can be for working drivers.
Pressure on Tesla is mounting. Drivers want answers, and the company's response will shape the future of electric taxis in Spain.
