Tesla has made the decision to stop taking new orders for the Model S and Model X in China, a move that signals the beginning of the end for these two electric vehicles in the Chinese market. The company quietly updated its Chinese website last week, removing the order page for the Model S and Model X, indicating that they are no longer accepting new orders for these models in China.
The decision comes as a result of increased import tariffs on U.S.-built EVs imported into China, coupled with disappointing sales numbers for the Model S and Model X in the country. While customers can still purchase these vehicles from existing inventory, Tesla has ceased shipping newly-built units of the Model S and Model X to China.
China is the largest EV market in the world, but it is also a highly competitive market where Western automakers struggle to meet the demands of local consumers. Despite Tesla’s local production of the Model 3 and Model Y at its Shanghai factory, the company has had to resort to significant price cuts to compete with local giant BYD.
The Model S and Model X, which are exclusively built in Fremont, California, have seen a decline in popularity over the years. Last year, Tesla sold fewer than 2,000 Model S and Model X vehicles in China, while the Model 3 and Model Y recorded over 660,000 sales in the country. Globally, the sales performance of the Model S, Model X, and Cybertruck pales in comparison to the Model 3 and Model Y, with the latter recording 1.7 million deliveries in 2024.
The decision to halt new orders for the Model S and Model X in China is part of a larger trend of retirement for these flagship models in various markets. The United Kingdom, Japan, and Australia were among the first countries to see the discontinuation of the Model S and Model X, with customers being offered the option to switch their orders to a Model 3 or Model Y or cancel their purchase altogether.
Despite receiving several updates over the years, the Model S and Model X are beginning to show their age, with their starting price tags of $80,000 and higher making them less attractive to consumers. As Tesla shifts its focus to the more popular Model 3 and Model Y, the future of the Model S and Model X remains uncertain in the global market.