Tesla cancels right-hand-drive Model X and Model S 'for foreseeable future'
You can still have one with the steering wheel on the wrong side
Tesla has announced that its Model S saloon and Model X SUV will only be available in left-hand-drive form from now on.
A spokesperson told Driving.co.uk that developing right-hand-drive versions of the latest Model S and Model X electric cars for the UK and other markets in which cars drive on the left would add significant costs and increase the complexity of engineering, manufacturing and supply that the company found hard to justify.
Instead, Tesla will prioritise sales of the smaller Model 3 and Model Y in the UK until next-generation versions of its larger models are revealed.
Customers who have made a reservation to buy a Model S or Model X ahead of their relaunch this year will have three options: purchase a Model S or Model X as normal, but receive a left-hand-drive vehicle; cancel their order and receive a full refund from Tesla; or be awarded a £2,000 credit towards the purchase of a Model 3 or Model Y.
Left-hand-drive Plaid models available
The news will be a blow to buyers interested in the high-performance Plaid models that will be part of the latest Model S and Model X ranges.
The Model S Plaid has 1,020bhp and a quoted 0-60mph time of 1.99 seconds (although this excludes a one-foot rollout from a standing start, so as to not put the drivetrain through any undue stress) plus a top speed of 200mph.
Tesla quotes an estimated range between recharges of 390 miles for this version, and it currently has stocks of the Model S Plaid available starting from £114,930.
The entry point to the Model S line-up is £95,480. This version has a 0-60mph time of ‘only’ 3.1 seconds and a 155mph top speed, but a range of 405 miles.
The Model X SUV returns with the familiar “falcon wing” rear doors, while the Plaid version is powered by the same 1,020bhp drivetrain as the Model S.
Performance figures for the Model X Plaid include a 0-60mph time of 2.5 seconds (minus the one-foot rollout) and a 163mph top speed. This version has a range of 333 miles according to Tesla, and the Plaid model is available from stock starting from £124,780.
The standard Model X, still with left-hand drive, is available from £99,930 and with a range of up to 348 miles, a 0-60mph time of 3.8 seconds and a 155mph top speed.
One incentive that Tesla is offering to buyers of left-hand-drive vehicles in the UK is three years of unlimited Supercharger use. This is available to any buyer who takes delivery of a Model S or Model X before the end of June this year.
Tesla recalls a million cars
News of Tesla’s decision to make the Model S and Model X left-hand drive only comes in the same week that Chinese authorities have announced a recall of more than a million Teslas for safety issues.
The recall focuses on a potential increase in the probability of drivers “mistakenly stepping on the accelerator pedal” for an extended period, which could increase the risk of collision.
The recall affects 1,104,622 vehicles across Tesla’s entire model range built between January 2019 and April 2023, and is more than the total number of Teslas sold in China over the same period. It’s not yet known if the recall will be rolled out to other territories.
Related articles
- After reading about the end of right-hand-drive Tesla Model S and Model X, you may want to read that Tesla recalled 362,000 cars after regulator said ‘Full Self Driving’ increases crash risk
- Don’t miss this video of the Tesla-rivalling Lucid Air with 1,111hp recording a 2.88sec 0-60mph time
- It’s also worth noting that a Tesla Autopilot report recently showed an improving safety record
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