Tesla will stop offering the lowest-priced versions of its Models S and X, chief executive Elon Musk wrote in a tweet.
"Starting on Monday, Tesla will no longer be taking orders for the 75 kWh version of the Model S & X," Musk wrote, adding if anyone wanted to order either of these models they could do it until Sunday night.
In response to a Twitter user question whether the company was "moving away from battery sizing in a similar sense to how Model 3s are sold ie Long Range, Performance etc?" Musk confirmed this was the case, dismissing concern that Tesla might begin to phase out the Model S and the Model X.
CNBC notes in its report of the news that the cheapest versions of the Model S and the Model X featuring 75 kWh batteries have a range of 259 and 237 miles, respectively. The next-cheapest Model S and Model X that will remain in production feature a battery of 100 kWh, with starting prices at US$94,000 for the Model S and US$97,000 for the Model X.
This compares with US$67,000 for the most enhanced version of the Model 3, featuring a dual motor all-wheel drive, an enhanced Autopilot system, and a US$5,000 performance upgrade package, writes CNBC's Lora Kolodny. Kolodny notes the discontinuation of the cheaper Model S and Model X versions could be a move to boost the sales of the Model 3, already pretty strong.
Tesla delivered 90,700 vehicles in the last quarter of 2018, more than all the cars it delivered to clients in 2017, the company reported. It also delivered a total 245,240 cars in full-2018, which is more than Tesla's deliveries for all prior years, the company said.
The Q4 2018 number was 8 percent higher than in the previous quarter, with the Model 3 booking the largest increase in deliveries, from 55,840 in the third quarter, to 63,150 in the final quarter of last year.
By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com
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