RHD Options For Tesla Model S And Model X Axed

Tesla has axed Right-Hand-Drive (RHD) versions of both its flagship Model S (pictured) and Model X.

American electric vehicle (EV) marque Tesla has confirmed its plans discontinue production of right-hand-drive (RHD) versions of both its Model S and Model X offerings. The firm was cited by Autocar UK that the decision will help “ramp up production and improve quality more effectively.”

The catalyst to this lies in the numbers – there’s just not enough orders for which to justify continued production of both models in RHD. In 2022, Tesla reportedly produced over 1.2 million units of the Model 3 and Model Y combined. In contrast, just 71,177 units of the Model S and Model X were built in the same period.

Just 71,177 units of the Model X (left) and Model X (right) were built in 2022. RHD version of which were far less.

With RHD versions of the Model S/X cancelled, Tesla has instead offered customers who were waiting to take deliveries of either this year with several options. The first is a downgrade to either the Model 3/Y, which also entails with Tesla providing some sort of credit incentive – up to EUR2,000 (approx. RM9,780) in Irelend, and up to AUS$3,000 (approx. RM9,000) in Australia, for instance.

Option two sees Tesla allowing customers to keep their orders, but receive LHD versions instead, which works in select markets that have special allowances for LHD cars despite their RHD roads (i.e. UK and Japan). However, this option isn’t viable select RHD markets that does not allow on-road use and registration of personal LHD vehicles at all (i.e. Singapore and Hong Kong).

Effectively, both the Model S and Model X will be sold as LHD units only. It's unclear if Tesla will reboot RHD production for models in the future.

For customers in the latter markets, Tesla also offers a third option where customers can cancel their Model S/X orders outright. Naturally, this entails towards Tesla providing these customers with full refunds for payments made.

It is unclear if Tesla will reboot production of RHD versions of either the Model S/X in the future. The only upside to this is that customers in RHD markets that allow sale and use of LHD can now opt for certain higher-end and high performance grades (i.e. Model S Plaid) that’s offered exclusively in LHD only.

Example Tesla Model S/X currently listed for sale by our dealer partners.

Keen  to acquire the Model S/X with the correct driving position before they’re gone? We’ve got several of which listed for sale by our dealer partners right now. Click here if you’re keen on a Model S. Alternatively, click here if you seek the larger Model X, instead.