Tesla shocked the world when it suddenly stopped taking orders for the Model S and Model X in China without any official announcement.
This drastic decision marks the end of the lives of the two iconic models in the world’s largest EV market.
Once symbols of luxury, the Model S and X are now a shadow of the past, with sales plummeting to less than 2,000 units sold in 2024 compared to more than 660,000 units for the Model 3 and Y.
This sales decline is reportedly due to high import duties for US-made EVs and starting prices of around $80,000, making both models less relevant in the local market.
Meanwhile, competitors such as BYD continue to grow rapidly with more affordable models that better suit local customers’ tastes.
Tesla’s decision indicates that the Model S and X may be officially discontinued worldwide, giving way to new players to dominate this increasingly competitive market.
The question is, will Tesla dare to announce the official 'death' of the Model S and X globally, or will it choose to let them slowly fade away to protect the company's image, while competitors like BYD continue to shake up the market?
