Price Hike: Tesla Drops Base Models
The starting prices for the Model X SUV and Model S sedan went up nearly $5,000 overnight following the abrupt deletion of their ‘standard range’ variants from Tesla’s lineup.

The “long range” editions of the Tesla Model X SUV and its stablemate, the Model S sedan, are now their base models, raising their entry-level prices by $4,990.
Photo courtesy Tesla Inc.
PALO ALTO, Calif. — Electric carmaker Tesla Inc. announced it is dropping the “standard range” variants of its Model X SUV and Model S sedan, raising the entry-level price for both vehicles by $4,990, while lowering the starting price of the high-volume Model 3 by less than $1,000.
The discontinued base-model X and S sold for $84,000 and $75,000, respectively, and could go about 285 miles on a full charge. The “long range” Model X and Model S get 370 and 345 miles per charge. Also still available are “performance” editions that trade range for enhanced output and acceleration.
The Model 3 sedan represented about 80% of all Tesla’s 95,200 deliveries in the second quarter, which represented a 51% improvement from Q1. The 3’s starting price was reduced from $39,900 to $38,990.
“To make purchasing our vehicles even simpler, we are standardizing our global vehicle lineup and streamlining the number of trim packages offered for Model S, Model X, and Model 3,” a statement from factory execs read, in part. “We are also adjusting our pricing in order to continue to improve affordability for customers.”
Writing for Jalopnick, industry watcher Michael Ballaban said the move was more likely the result of limited manufacturing capacity. Tesla is preparing to shift some Model 3 production to an under-construction factory in Shanghai; China is the world’s largest electric-vehicle market.
“For most consumers, [capacity] doesn’t matter one whit. But one of the end results of that is Tesla’s lineup is constantly shifting and moving in subtle ways,” Ballaban wrote. “So it may not surprise you that Tesla banished the base model ‘standard range’ Tesla Model X and Tesla Model S from its lineup.”
Originally posted on Auto Dealer Today
More Industry

Penske Auto Group Deal a Record
The deal to take the dealership and transportation services company private sets a new pace for industry buy-sell transactions.
Read More →
War Toll a Damper on Used Auto Prices
Cox Automotive found wholesale depreciation to be elevated in September amid high fuel prices and this year's unusual hurricane season.
Read More →
Bridge the Maintenance Gap
With many drivers missing recommended maintenance, service departments offering transparency and efficiency have a better chance of reaching financially strained consumers.
Read More →
California Store Has New Owner
The longtime dealership in the northern part of the state is known for robust fleet sales and has served the state capital for 115 years.
Read More →
BMW Plant Pursues Cleaner Energy
BMW Group Plant Leipzig has utilized hydrogen to help power its production since 2013, but a new pipeline is planned to take it to another level.
Read More →
Auto Affordability Inches Up
The latest Cox Automotive and Moody’s Analytics index shows a slight increase in new-vehicle affordability despite high prices.
Read More →
Ohio Auto Group Under New Ownership
After 79 years with the Schluter family, Mansfield Auto Group has been acquired by Missouri-based Clement Auto Group.
Read More →
RV Group Expands Carolina Footprint
Blue Compass RV Columbia Northeast is the 13th RV dealership owned by Blue Compass in the Carolinas.
Read More →
Agent Acumen
An Agent Summit panel of people who’ve been supporting auto dealers for years gave both timely and timeless advice for those starting out or mulling the prospect.
Read More →
Missed Maintenance Creates Opportunity
As families get back on the road and into daily school routines, service drives have an opportunity to capture customers who are behind on recommended vehicle maintenance.
Read More →