Tesla CANCELS Right-Hand Drive cars... BUT LHD new Model S and X available NOW! Would you? Prices?

Wow ok big news in Tesla circles this morning.

Firstly the news that for “The Foreseeable Future” the will be NO Right-Hand Drive production of the new Model S or X - the “palladium” versions including Plaid.
This affects all countries who drive on the left including Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Japan and more.

People have had reservations down for years and now this news. There are a lot of angry customers that’s for sure.

But a second twist in the tale….. you CAN get a Left Hand Drive in the UK right NOW! Tesla GB website is now updated and shows a number of cars in stock for “immediate delivery” at their Southampton hub.

are you tempted to take LHD? Maybe you are. My concern here is that what happens if they DO release in RHD some time. The LHD will drop a ton in value and be worth much less surely.

And what are the prices for UK now?
Model S Long Range - from £95,480
Model S Plaid - from £114,930

Model X Long Range - from £99,930
Model X Plaid - from £124,780
how many will spend £100,000 on a Left Hand Drive car?

What will insurance companies think.
What about car park barriers and toll roads. OK so many of these now don’t have booths any more BUT what about when you want to overtake on a country road? This would be more dangerous wouldn’t it.

Are Tesla just going to say “deal with it”? only ever make LHD and we just have to get used to it. Maybe Elon Musk will make us change which side of the road we drive on…

Have you ever known a company make moves like this? It wasn’t what i was expecting that’s for sure…

Tell me your thoughts….

Richard Symons
R Symons LTD
@RSEV

UK independent Tesla and EV used car specialist based on the south coast in New Milton - between Southampton and Bournemouth

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[bordersw]

Imagine the depreciation selling a LHD in the U.K!

[johnsh]

I've heard a rumour that it's because of supply chain issues. There's apparently a worldwide shortage of RHD steering wheels.

[markbradley]

Now that the Y is out i think they would sell so relatively few S and X in the UK and Japan that its not worth complicated their manufacturing process or supply chain to add the RHD components.

They've also got the EQS and Taycan as luxury brands to compete with, both of which are really good GT cars, better interiors and tech.

[chazprouk]

Who here remembers when 100 grand was a lot of money? 🤓

[onlineo]

We have a 2018 model X. No possible way I would consider buying a new version or 2nd hand version in left hand drive in the UK. What a stupid idea.

[EvEvangelist]

I have ( had) 2 MS Plaid on order since reveal. ( ORDER not reservation - £1k deposit) So I am pissed. I attended the first available conference call on this issue earlier today and the Tesla BOD said…….”It WILL come but we just cant give you a date so we have decided to take this approach” ( i recorded it) Tesla didn’t handle this well at all. On Line, they say they have stock in Southampton, NO they do NOT . They are in transit from Fremont via Holland & the conf call said delivery will be 6-8 weeks- NOT come and collect. Some may say : Tesla is delinquent on SAFETY by promoting LHD versions of the fastest production car EVER MADE to the UK where LHD ON single lane roads disable the ability to see oncoming cars. NOT GOOD TESLA.

[badbelly]

I swear they off loaded all the LHD ones at Southampton by mistake and its to much hassle to pick them all up again 🤣

[goldreverre]

This really sucks. I'm in Australia and placed my S order over two years ago on 27/12/2020. I bought a model 3 in the interim as a run-around car, but it's not what I'm after.

[Peggypatch]

I ordered my Model x Plaid early 2022. Ive now arranged to test drive a Mercedes EQS and Audi GT this weekend . Tesla are going to loose quite a few loyal early bird customers here who have been waiting for their replacement Model S and X.

[EwanM]

When i emigrated from Sweden i brought my lhd car with me and drove it round for about a year. For the most part its no big deal, because it obly really is a problem at drive throughs and when overtaking. In the UK overtaking isnt really a thing, there's too much traffic to make it worthwhile. But i wouldn't pay plaid prices for a lhd car.

[JohnScarrott]

LHD in the UK is a pain. Great if you do A LOT of driving in Europe, but if the majority of driving is in the UK no way would I get a LHD. As you say, overtaking is so risky, as you have to get half the car onto the other side of the road to see what's coming from the other direction, which is just asking for a head-on crash, and every time you do it all the other passengers are afraid for their lives. Just no. Plenty of other RHD EV's to choose from, new and used. Also, they should be offering £10k off for taking a LHD when people ordered a RHD.

[williammykura]

Here’s my take on this - Tesla have had a large inventory of Model S & X sitting in the US for some time now. How to shift them? - put them on a boat to the UK (Southampton) but don’t tell anyone until they arrive - which is now. But how to sell them - who wants a LHD in the UK..? Simple - cancel orders for RHD models of S & X for the foreseeable future. Anyone who's on the waiting list has no option but to buy a LHD, or cancel. Once the inventory is used up, I’d wager that RHD orders will become available again.

[ruaraidhmcdonald-walker]

Utterly pissed off. Was in Tesla Northampton this very morning and they were shocked as well. Would rather a Taycan than a 3/Y (3 on stilts)

[s.kxx]

Looks like your older RHD X and S prices are going up ! 📈

[grahambrown]

Disappointing, having an order from December 2020 😢

[findtomdotcom]

I have had a Model-X Plaid on order for 2 years. I am disappointed that Tesla still treats UK customers like this, but not really surprised…

[mikekyffin]

Thank you for producing this quick video in response to another Tesla decision that leaves the majority of people shaking their heads on how this was calculated and proposed as a pragmatic solution. I’m lucky for to have a late 18 MX low mileage. I bought as prices were dropping towards end of last year. Then they dropped off a Cliff due to decision number one on pricing. Decision number 2 - let’s see what the fall out of this one will be. My immediate reflection is whilst striving to accelerate the world to sustainable future is creating a chaotic pathway that I’m now starting to question as an owner. Will reflect over coming days and reach out to you about letting this X go.

[-Will-]

I quite like the idea of a LHD for occasional trips to the Netherlands / France. However the depreciation and other inconveniences make it a no-goer. I'd be quite happy with a 2019 S, and have 20k saved for a new batttery in X years and 5k for other bits and pieces and still save a lot over buying new.

[shaunpugh]

Hypothetically if I could afford and S or an X I wouldn't be getting it in LHD, I would just walk - at that price there are alternatives, and there's no immediate need as buyers have already waited several decades for these to be delivered. It sounds to me like another example of a company with desirable products treating its customers with contempt because it can.

[StevenMillward]

let's call it what it is: Tesla just QUIT the premium segment in a number of wealthy (albeit fairly small) markets, such as the UK and Japan. what a slap in the face to Tesla fans in those countries. what a clumsy and incompetent way to run a major automaker.