Tesla explains why it asked some suppliers for retroactive discounts
https://www.cnbc.com/2018/07/23/tesla-statement-supplier-discouunts.html
Tesla has responded to a report in the Wall Street Journal Sunday that the company asked a supplier last week to return a "meaningful amount of money of its payments since 2016.”
Tesla said that it was negotiating with suppliers in an effort to reach a "more sustainable long-term cost basis," and that it had contacted fewer than 10 suppliers with these requests. The company said that its other discussions with suppliers were focused on price negotiations for future shipments.