Tesla canceled the most expensive variant of its flagship sedan, the Model S Plaid Plus, on Sunday, according to a tweet from CEO Elon Musk.
Previously, Tesla and Musk promised fans that the three-engine Plaid Plus version of their new Model S would give drivers 1,100 horsepower, 520 miles of range on a fully charged battery, and acceleration from 0 to 60 mph in less than two seconds.
On Sunday, Musk wrote on Twitter, where he has a follower number of over 50 million:
“Plaid + is canceled. No need as Plaid is just so good.” He added: “0 to 60 mph in less than 2 seconds. The fastest production car ever built.
In March, Tesla increased the price of the Model S Plaid Plus by $ 10,000 to about $ 150,000. The option to order the Model S Plaid Plus variant was removed from Tesla’s website in the last week of May, according to a CNET report.
The remaining high-end version of the Model S Plaid costs around $ 119,900 and has, among other things, a battery with a range of 390 miles, with 1,020 horsepower and an acceleration from 0 to 100 mph in two seconds.
Musk had previously scheduled a “delivery ceremony” for the Model S plaid at Tesla’s Fremont, Calif. Factory on June 3. As the date drew near, he delayed it until June 10, saying the vehicle still needed “another week of optimization”.
Like other North American automakers, Tesla has been grappling with supply chain issues, particularly a shortage of computer chips.
The company recently removed radar sensors and lumbar support from the passenger seats in its lower-priced Model 3 and Model Y crossover sedans for customers in North America.
It didn’t produce any of the higher-priced Model S or Model X models in the first quarter of 2021, despite Musk saying production was ongoing during a fourth-quarter 2020 conference call.
On April 26, Musk said at Tesla’s next prize talk:
“Q1 had some of the toughest supply chain challenges we’ve ever faced at Tesla. Insane supply chain difficulties with parts, across the parts spectrum. Obviously, we were upset about the chip shortage is a huge problem.”
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He also spoke about technical challenges in developing and manufacturing new versions of the Model S sedan and the Model X SUV.
“There were more challenges than expected in developing the Plaid Model S or the Paladium program, which is a new version of the Model S and X that has a redesigned interior and a new battery, as well as new drive units and internal electronics, and the like looks like an infotainment system on a high broadcasting level. ” He added, “It took some development to make sure the battery on the new S and X is safe.”
Meanwhile, the company has raised prices several times this year for different variants of its more popular Model 3 and Model Y models in the United States. Musk also blamed the price increases on supply chain issues. In a tweet on May 31, he wrote: “Prices are rising due to industry-wide price pressures in the supply chain. Especially raw materials. “
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