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Tesla now using leftover upholstery leather from its cars to make stylish iPhone cases

Just barely in time for Christmas, Tesla updated its online store to add new apparel and accessories, including new iPhone 6 and 6 Plus leather cases/wallets.  If you have a Tesla enthusiast on your Christmas list, this might be your best last-minute shot for a holiday gift.

Like most luxury automakers, Tesla offers accessories made from automotive-grade leather leftover from making the interior of its vehicles, which is an interesting way for the manufacturer to promote its brand while reducing upholstery losses. The company rarely updates its collection since launching it last year with travel bags, gloves and purses – making the new iPhone cases the first significant addition to the ‘Tesla Design Collection‘.

You can get a Tesla designed iPhone 6 or 6 Plus case for $45. For $5 more, Tesla can add 2 (or 3 for the 6 Plus) credit card slots stitched to the back of the case for a smartphone case/wallet amalgam.

Tesla says that its wallet-case option is RFID blocking, which can be reassuring if you see RFID skimming as a security risk.

Tesla also offers $100 touchscreen-friendly leather gloves to match your new iPhone case.

If you plan on matching those accessories with the ultimate Tesla product, the Model S, make sure to use Seth’s referral code to get a $1,000 discount on your purchase (valid until December 31).

Also, if you want more Tesla Motors and electric vehicle news, make sure to follow our sister-site Electrek on Twitter,Facebook or Google+ to get our latest articles.

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Comments

  1. Actually, it looks lovely.

  2. PhilBoogie - 9 years ago

    Now there’s one pathetic iPhone case!

  3. lordrootman - 9 years ago

    Can’t wait for people start making apple car cases

  4. lordrootman - 9 years ago

    First is ugly second I don’t want their logo on my iPhone
    I want my iPhone remain iPhone

  5. kijijigod - 9 years ago

    When I saw the iPhone case, I splooged!

    InstaBUY!!!

  6. Might as well put in a Tesla battery in that case.
    With their battery tech the juice would last for days while still looking better than Apple’s ugly battery case

    • Fred Lambert - 9 years ago

      Only problem is that Tesla uses 18650 battery cells which are cylinder shaped, not rectangular pouches use for phones.

    • butskristof - 9 years ago

      Indeed. Tesla doesn’t really have any stellar battery tech, they just cram a crapload of them in the car.

      • Fred Lambert - 9 years ago

        Not entirely true. They develop their battery cells partnership with Panasonic and they have the cells with the highest energy density used in production EVs.

        But still yah they use a crapload of cells ~7,000

  7. James Kalas - 9 years ago

    is this whole RFID wallet thing a scam? seems to me to be a remote possibility and is preying on the fears of people waking around with tinfoil hats.

    • Fred Lambert - 9 years ago

      Yes and no. that’s why I didn’t spend time on the feature. it is definitely “hack-able”, but there isn’t much you can do with the data. There are better ways to steal people’s money with credit cards…

  8. cjt3007 - 9 years ago

    Are they available in the retail locations? I have one close by…

    • Fred Lambert - 9 years ago

      Tesla sells its accessories in-store but with limited supplies you better call first

  9. applegetridofsimandjack - 9 years ago

    Reminds me of when Samsung wanted to use plastic that came from Faxconn that didn’t pass quality control for Apple products.

    Samsung finally decided not to use the plastic because the quality of it was simply too high.

  10. $229.40 for shipping to Germany? wat?!

  11. tibusheth - 9 years ago

    Thank you, Elon Musk!

  12. Brandon Kiely - 9 years ago

    Fred – not sure where you are getting your facts from, but believe me when I tell you that the leather being used for Tesla branded phone cases is not “leftover” or “waste” that would be discarded and sent to a landfill.

    I work for an automotive leather supplier, and while I believe this leather product comes from the same hide that is used for making Tesla seats, it is not made from any type of remanent that would be thrown away. On the contrary, it is made with the same intention as any other piece of leather used for Tesla branded products.

    • Fred Lambert - 9 years ago

      I remember Elon mentioning during a talk when it was first unveiled. I can’t find the source quickly, but it was widly reported when the first launch the collection. here

      Attendees at the event were allowed to examine and order from a new line of Tesla handbags, cellphone covers and other items that sported the Tesla logo and are made from excess leather recycled from its Northern California assembly plant.

      “excess leather”

      http://www.wsj.com/articles/tesla-motors-shows-off-automated-driving-system-1412918991

Author

Avatar for Fred Lambert Fred Lambert

Fred is the Editor in Chief and Main Writer at Electrek. He sometimes contributes to 9to5mac and 9to5Google.


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