There are still a handful of questions about the Tesla Model X following the unveiling the other day. One of the bigger questions, which has been swirling around Tesla discussion threads for weeks… or months, has been whether or not lower-cost, lower-range versions of the X would be available. All the details we’ve seen so far have been about the 90D and P90D, which use 90 kWh batteries.
All but confirming that there will be 70D and P70D (or maybe 80D and P80D) options for buyers looking for less range at a lower cost, Elon sent out this tweet last night:
Btw, price of Model X is actually only $5k more than S. Lower cost versions coming later.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) September 30, 2015
Elon tweeted on September 3 that the Model X would be $5,000 more than the Model S with the same options, which many of us initially took to mean all the way down to the 70D versions of the vehicles. However, it wasn’t explicit if 70D Model X SUVs would actually be produced. I guess that still isn’t explicit, but “Lower cost versions” sure makes it sound like that is the case.
Of course, as long as Tesla is production limited (Tesla currently has tens of thousands of Model X reservations and seems to be sold out until the second half of 2016), it makes more sense to produce/sell higher-end versions and make more money doing so. Tesla is still in sharp need of the cash to fuel its massive growth plans.
There’s still no mention of lower-cost versions of the X on the just-updated Model X page, so my guess is that it’ll still be quite a while before the.
“There’s still no mention of lower-cost versions of the X on the just-updated Model X page, so my guess is that it’ll still be quite a while before the.”
Before the what?
You probably saw the update, but if not, ~12 months according to Elon.