Tesla has told customers that it has stopped taking new orders for its 2022 Model S and Model X in markets outside the US for the foreseeable future, while it ramps up production.
Tesla has removed delivery dates altogether from its Australian website, and has told order holders that all non-US global launches of the refreshed premium electric models, which now include a tri-motor “Plaid” configuration with a yoke steering wheel launched in June, are on standby.
The Model S and Model X form just a fraction of Tesla’s global production and sales. Before introducing the new Plaid refresh, it produced 16,000 Model S and Model xXcompared to 10 times as many Model 3 and Model Y in 2020.
Since halting production in order to retool for the newly designed vehicles, which had not seen a makeover since the 2017 Model S lost its “grille”, Tesla has only produced its premium electric vehicles for the US market, causing its 9% mix to drop to just 3.7%.
Now, Tesla is telling order holders in other markets that it is in the throes of ramping up production. The news comes shortly after Musk also confirmed that a Cybertruck launch is also delayed, linking it to “supply chain nightmares“.
A letter received by an Australian order holder on Sunday states:
“As we ramp up production, launch timelines for global markets have been placed on hold. We will update your estimated delivery date in your Tesla Account as the production of your Model S approaches.
“In order to prioritise existing orders like yours, we will temporarily stop accepting new Model S and Model X orders in global markets.”
The letter also assures order holders that when they do finally receive their vehicle, Tesla will honour the price it stated at the time of order, and that a full refund or change of order will also be offered if requested.
As of Tuesday morning, Tesla is still accepting fully refundable deposits of $350 for both its Model S and Model X in Australia.
However, those putting down orders have no way of knowing what they will pay for either vehicle until further notice. A note on Tesla’s Australia website states that, “Pricing and options will be finalised as delivery approaches. You will be notified to complete your order when final pricing and options are published.”
Before this change, the Model S was priced at $186,990 for the Plaid variant and $141,990 for the Long Range variant. The Model X cost $174,990 for the Plaid variant and $165,990 for the Long Range variant (all before on-road costs and government charges).
Musk also said in a recent tweet that he will provide an updated product roadmap at the company’s next earning call in January 2022.
Bridie Schmidt is associate editor for The Driven, sister site of Renew Economy. She has been writing about electric vehicles since 2018, and has a keen interest in the role that zero-emissions transport has to play in sustainability. She has participated in podcasts such as Download This Show with Marc Fennell and Shirtloads of Science with Karl Kruszelnicki and is co-organiser of the Northern Rivers Electric Vehicle Forum. Bridie also owns a Tesla Model Y and has it available for hire on evee.com.au.