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After order books were suddenly closed last month, Tesla has confirmed the updated Model S and Model X will not be built in right-hand drive – and will not be sold in Australia.
Tesla advised customers today that “due to recent changes in the vehicle program”, the updated Model S and Model X would “not be available in right-hand drive”.
Buyers who have placed a pre-order on a Model S or Model X since they were unveiled at the start of 2021 will be given a refund of their circa-$400 deposit, and a $3000 credit towards a smaller Model 3 sedan or Model Y SUV.
The announcement comes after pre-order books were paused in Australia in April 2023 – and 18 months after prices and delivery times were pulled from the Tesla Australia website in late 2021.
The facelifted electric cars were unveiled for the US in January 2021 – and commenced deliveries in North America shortly afterwards – but right-hand-drive production has not commenced in the two years since.
Estimated delivery timing when orders opened was listed as “late 2022” for the Model S and Model X, but this date was pulled later in 2021.
The last Tesla Model S and Model X vehicles delivered in Australia joined local roads at the end of 2020, in pre-facelifted form.
It is unclear why Tesla has elected not to produce the updated Model S and Model X in right-hand drive – or how long ago the decision was made.
Buyers who ordered a vehicle are being offered $3000 towards a new Model 3 or Model Y orders – but it will only be valid for orders placed before 31 October 2023.
“Due to recent changes to the vehicle program, Model S [and Model X] will not be available in Right Hand Drive. Unfortunately this means your order is unable to be fulfilled and will be cancelled,” Tesla’s notice to customers reads.
“You will receive a full refund for any payments made. We understand that this may be disappointing news to receive and want to apologise for any inconvenience caused.”
The decision not to offer the updated Tesla Model S and Model X pushes the future of the Tesla Cybertruck ute in Australia further under a cloud.
Pre-orders for the Cybertruck were pulled from the Tesla Australia website in May 2022, about a year before the Model S and Model X pre-orders were pulled.
Tesla is yet to give a formal indication of whether there remain plans to introduce the sharply-styled vehicle to local showrooms.
Cars have played a central role throughout Alex’s life, from flicking through car magazines at a young age, to growing up around performance vehicles in a car-loving family.
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