Report: Tesla Updating Referral Program For In-Person Referrals May 06, 2021 at 8:54am ET ++ Reports say Tesla will move to an app-based program that promotes test drives and in-person referrals. If you follow Tesla, you probably know all about its referral program, though it's been a bit hard over the years to keep up with it, since it changes from time to time. Basically, instead of using traditional marketing and advertising, Tesla counts on owners of its cars to help sell them. Tesla owners who rack up enough referrals get prizes. We used to hear about updates to the Tesla Referral Program on a regular basis. However, this was during a time when the brand wasn't making a profit or enjoying the sales success of the Model 3, and now the Model Y.