Summary:
Tesla has cancelled plans to produce right-hand drive (RHD) versions of the Model S and Model X for the U.K., Australia, Hong Kong, India, New Zealand, and many other countries where vehicles drive on the left side of the road.
The all-electric automaker had already launched orders for RHD Model S/X units in several markets, including the U.K., where Tesla has been delivering right-hand drive Model Ys and Model 3s for some time now.
In an email, Tesla informed reservation holders in affected markets that their orders would be cancelled. The company wrote:
“Due to recent changes to the vehicle program, Model X will not be available in Right Hand Drive. Unfortunately, this means your order is unable to be fulfilled and will be cancelled. You will receive a full refund for any payments made. We understand that this may be disappointing news to receive and want to apologize for any inconvenience caused.”
Tesla earlier today launched Model S/X orders in Japan, but only for left-hand drive (LHD) variants, which is really weird since driving is on the left in the country. “Left-hand drive model – In order to sell Model S worldwide, Tesla will ship left-hand drive cars to Japan. Design Studio can only purchase left-hand drive models. There are no plans to produce a right-hand drive model,” says Tesla’s website.
【Hello, Japan】
新しいModel S, Model X, いよいよ日本へ。#ModelS #ModelX https://t.co/7hG18GQRJ0https://t.co/XFkOHYLGDS pic.twitter.com/J233TI53X9
— Tesla Japan (@teslajapan) May 12, 2023
In some countries, such as the U.K., Tesla is also offering customers some alternatives to cancelling their RHD Model S/X orders (along with incentives for picking one of these options).
“Right-hand drive Model X will not be available in the U.K. for the forseeable future,” Tesla wrote in an email to reservation holders in the U.K (via @TeslaOwnersUK). “You can choose to receive credit for Model 3 or Model Y, purchase Model X as a left-hand drive vehicle or just cancel your order.”
In the U.K., RHD Model S/X buyers can convert their reservation to a Model 3 or Model Y, both of which are available in right-hand drive configurations, and get £2,000 in credit for doing so. Additionally, they can also opt to take immediate delivery of an LHD Model X from Tesla’s ready stock instead, which will come with 3 years of free Supercharging.
“If you prefer to cancel your order, you do not need to take any action. We will automatically cancel your current reservation on June 5th and refund your order fee in full.”
While Tesla is no longer accepting new orders for RHD Model S/X vehicles, customers can place orders for LHD variants of both cars in affected markets. In the U.K., Tesla’s online configurator says that new LHD Model S/X orders will be delivered within the next two months.
Tesla today also hiked prices for the Model S, Model X, and Model Y in the U.S. and Canada.