Tesla Model S and Model X Plaid approach China and Europe, is Australia next?

Tesla’s largest electric passenger cars are drawing closer to launches in Europe and China, after two years out of showrooms. But when will Australia follow?

The Tesla Model S and Model X may be about to go global again after a hiatus of almost two years, first in Europe and China – but when Australia will follow is yet to be locked in.

Updated versions of the Model S sedan and Model X SUV were revealed almost two years ago (January 2021) – including new Plaid flagships – with pre-orders opening globally at the same time, including in Australia.

But to date deliveries have only begun in the US and Canada – and pricing and delivery date estimates for Australia were wiped from Tesla’s local website late last year.

The tide now appears to be turning, as the Model S and Model X have been given their certified WLTP claimed driving range figures in Europe, pointing to an imminent launch – and Tesla is preparing to debut the cars in China this weekend.

Tesla’s websites in left-hand-drive (LHD) European countries list estimated delivery for new orders of December 2022 to February 2023 for the tri-motor Model S and Model X Plaid, with the standard dual-motor versions to become available “in 2023”.

However, there remain no delivery estimates – or prices – on Tesla’s Chinese website, nor its sites in the right-hand-drive (RHD) UK and Irish markets.

Past new Tesla models have typically arrived in Australia six to 12 months after European deliveries begin – suggesting if the December to February timing listed for LHD European markets is accurate, the first Model S and Model X Plaids may be in Australia in late 2023 or early 2024.

If correct, it would mean a three-year hiatus for Tesla Model S and Model X in Australia, as the last examples delivered locally are believed to have left showrooms at the end of 2020, or start of 2021.

When orders for the updated Model S and Model X opened in January 2021, they were priced from $129,990 before on-road costs and Luxury Car Tax, with estimated delivery sometime in 2022.

By August 2021, prices had risen to $141,990 before on-road costs and Luxury Car Tax, with the estimated delivery date for new orders pushed to the “end of 2022” soon after.

Pricing and delivery timing details were pulled from the Tesla Australia website – and other Tesla configurator pages in Europe and Asia – in December 2021. Prices and delivery times returned to left-hand-drive European Tesla websites in August 2022.

It remains to be seen if vehicles delivered in Europe, China and eventually Australia are fitted with North America’s aircraft-style ‘yoke’, or a traditional circular wheel seen in leaked photos on the Tesla website.

As a refresher, the ‘entry-level’ Model S and Model X share two electric motors with 500kW combined, capable of 0-100km/h times of 3.2 and 3.9 seconds in the sedan and SUV respectively, and WLTP driving range claims of 634km and 576km.

Meanwhile, the Plaids upgrade to three carbon-sleeved electric motors (two at the rear, one up front) developing 761kW combined, for claimed 0-100km/h times of 2.1 and 2.6 seconds respectively, quarter-mile (402m) times of 9.23 and 9.9 seconds, quoted top speeds of 322km/h and 262km/h, and WLTP range claims of 600km and 543km.

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