Tesla Mannequin S and Mannequin X reservation holders in the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and all the opposite nations the place vehicles are right-hand drive went on social media to publish their frustrations after the American EV maker determined to cease producing RHD variations of the 2 fashions.
About three weeks in the past, Tesla abruptly introduced that it received’t manufacture its flagship EVs with the steering wheel on the suitable anymore and provided some choices to reservation holders, resembling accepting supply of a left-hand drive automobile, going for the smaller Mannequin 3 or Mannequin Y, or canceling the order altogether.
Nevertheless, for some folks in the UK who’ve waited as much as three years for his or her Mannequin S or Mannequin X to be delivered, the information got here as a shock. In order that they went to the closest Porsche or Mercedes-Benz dealership to order a Taycan or an EQS, as Autocar writes.
29 Photographs
“I’m a 2018 Mannequin S 100D proprietor since new and a Mannequin S Plaid order holder since October 2021,” mentioned Paul Jones. “I really like the vehicles [but this decision] is a kick within the tooth. To be informed repeatedly since 2021 my automobile is delayed however is coming and now this, with out rationalization, could be very poor. Very first thing I did after getting the e-mail was drive to my native Porsche vendor and I’ve acquired a Taycan Turbo S take a look at drive booked.”
One other bitter Mannequin X reservation holder, Harry Inexperienced, spoke to Mercedes-Benz and ordered an EQS sedan after he acquired the information from Tesla:
“I’ve had a Mannequin X on order since October 2020. Ordering a Mercedes EQS now.”
Talking concerning the perils of driving a left-hand drive automobile on the roads of the UK, John Scarnott was nervous about overtaking with restricted visibility:
“Overtaking is so dangerous, as you must get half the automobile onto the opposite aspect of the highway to see what’s coming.”
However whereas controversial, Tesla’s determination to cease delivering RHD Mannequin S and Mannequin X autos is rooted in its means to maneuver a lot bigger numbers of its extra reasonably priced EVs – the Mannequin 3 and Mannequin Y.
In keeping with Dylan Setterfield, head of forecast technique at Cap HPI, just a little over 11,000 Mannequin S items had been registered in the UK between 2013 and 2021, and fewer than 6,500 Mannequin Xs between 2016 and 2021. That’s roughly 10 p.c of the 170,000+ Mannequin 3 and Mannequin Y items mixed which can have been registered by the tip of this 12 months, so possibly the American EV model is best off chopping prices and upsetting some clients, and specializing in its best-sellers.
However what do you consider this? Tell us within the feedback part under.