WITHOUT elaborating and with little deference to good buyer relations, Tesla has sent emails to deposit-paying prospects of right-hand drive, up-to-date Mannequin S and Mannequin X autos saying, “As a consequence of the latest modifications to the car program, Mannequin S (and Mannequin X) won’t be accessible in right-hand drive.”

Adopted by “Sadly, this implies your order cannot be fulfilled and will likely be canceled. You’ll obtain a full refund for any funds made. We perceive this can be disappointing information to obtain and need to apologize for any inconvenience.”

The international locations affected include Australia, Britain, India, Indonesia, Eire, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Pakistan, Singapore, Southern African nations, and Thailand.

In an email flood, upset prospects were provided deposit refunds or $3000 in credit to purchase a smaller and less highly effective Mannequin 3 sedan or Mannequin Y SUV, as long as they accomplish that earlier than the end of October 2023.

Additional Tesla buyer communications say: “Within the subsequent 24 hours, you’ll receive an email containing necessary particulars on processing the refund of any funds you could have made. As soon as these particulars have been confirmed, we will process your refund within 14 enterprise days.”

The notifications haven’t gone down well with many Aussie prospects of the 2 most costly Tesla fashions, as some have been ready for a few years—significantly for the hyper-performance Plaid variations of each auto.

Hypothesis on social media boards suggest that Tesla’s determination was motivated by the latest hefty cost cuts that the carmaker must take in or that Tesla has merely deferred the manufacturing of stated RHD fashions.

The latter was fanned by different Tesla communications that stated the manufacturing of RHD fashions will likely be stopped “for the foreseeable future,” which, in previous expertise with Tesla-speak, might imply something.

Mannequin S and Mannequin X consumers are left with little choice as a substitute for their chosen autos. Tesla’s notion that Mconsumersof mannequins and Mannequin X might purchase a left-hand-drive mannequin and drive it right here is inaccurate, as neither qualifies as a historical or traditional car.

However, they might pay tens of thousands for a customized RHD conversion, which might doubtlessly be simpler for battery-electric autos than those with an internal combustion engine.

Tesla will transport LHD vehicles to Japan and the UK, which have native dispensations that permit them to be registered.

Pricing for the Mannequin S Lengthy Vary was $129,990 plus on-road prices, with the 1000 horsepower plus (745kW) Plaid model pitched at $186,990 + ORC.

The Mannequin X Lengthy Vary was $149,990 plus ORC, with the Mannequin X Plaid working the identical powertrain because the Mannequin S Plaid pitched at $174,990 + ORC.

Potential replacements for disgruntled Tesla prospects include a variety of hybrids and absolutely electrical vehicles: the Porsche Taycan 4S, priced from $197,200; the Audi E-Tron GT Sportback, priced from $180,200; the Genesis G80 Electrical, priced from $145,000; and a possible Plaid substitute, the Mercedes-Benz EQE AMG 53 4Matic, priced from $214,900 (all costs exclude on-road prices).

The hypothesis that Tesla chose to cease RHD manufacturing of Mannequin S and X autos way back is fanned by the fact that the final examples of those autos delivered to Australia were wherever-facelift variations at the end of 2020.