Tesla removes Model S and Model X pricing, extends Shanghai factory production halt

Tesla has removed pricing for the Fremont-made Model S and Model X from its Australian website on Thursday, along with estimates of when the EV maker will recommence deliveries, while Tesla’s Shanghai factory will extend a production shutdown amid Covid complications.

For drivers still wanting to order one of Tesla’s premium electric range, never fear: the EV maker is still taking orders that can be secured with a $350 fully refundable deposit.

Doing so, Tesla’s website issues this message: “Pricing and options will be finalised as delivery approaches. You will be notified to complete your order when final pricing and options are published. Until then, your order will be considered a pre-order that you may cancel with a full refund.”

It’s unclear what the change on Tesla’s website means exactly. There were no Model S and Model X delivered to Australia in 2021 after Tesla announced a design refresh requiring a retooling of its Fremont assembly lines.

In late 2021 after a price increase of some $5,000 for the Long range variants of both models, Tesla’s website said that new Model S and Model X vehicles would be delivered in late 2022.

But even this delivery date is now in question. It could be presumed that ongoing supply chain issues, and material cost increases that have seen Tesla raise the price of its Model 3 (and Model Y in global markets) have caused Tesla to put Model S and Model X on hold for Australia for the time being.

Before removing pricing from the Tesla Australia website, the Model S started at $141,990 before on-road costs for the Long Range variants, and $186,990 for the Plaid tri-motor version.

The Long Range Model X started at $161,990 at the time, while the Plaid tri-motor variant started at $174,990 (both before on-road costs).

The Driven reached out to Tesla Australia to find out why but a response was not received by the time of publication. Tesla no longer has a media representative in Australia.

Meanwhile, Tesla is reportedly extending its production halt in Shanghai amid a continued lockdown due to the ongoing Covid pandemic.

News agency Reuters reported that Tesla is shutting down its Shanghai factory for four days after the city announced on Sunday that it would shut down in two stages to conduct widespread testing for COVID 19, according to two people familiar with the situation.

According to the sources, the corporation informed its employees and suppliers of the change after attempting to create a “closed loop” to keep production going by calling staff in on Sunday. However, after determining that it did not have enough resources for them, it permitted them to go that evening, it was reported.

Tesla’s Shanghai factory produces around 2,000 electric cars a day. In February, the China Passenger Car Association said Tesla delivered 56,515 Shanghai made vehicles, 33,315 of which were exported to other markets.

The majority of these exports have fed demand for Tesla electric cats in Germany and Japan. With Tesla’s Berlin factory in Germany now officially open and ready to ramp up production, it is expected that Shanghai-made inventory will be freed up for other markets, including an Australian-bound Model Y.

Wait times for Tesla’s Model 3 in Australia recently exploded to up to nine months, leaving new customers waiting until 2023 for a new EV from Tesla. The Model Y, which was expected to go on sale in late 2021, still has not opened for orders on Tesla’s Australia website.