Tesla has halted new orders for the Model S and Model X in China, signaling another strategic retreat for its aging flagship EVs. Without a formal announcement, the company simply removed the ordering option from both its Chinese website and its WeChat mini program—moves that went largely unnoticed until sharp-eyed observers pointed them out.
The move comes at a time of mounting economic friction between China and the United States, as the two nations continue to escalate their trade war. With tariffs now reaching as high as 125% on U.S.-made imports—an apparent counter to U.S. tariff hikes that climbed to 145%—the cost of American EVs in China has skyrocketed. As a result, premium models like the Model S and Model X have become increasingly unattractive to Chinese consumers already inundated with competitive, domestically-built options.
Built exclusively at Tesla’s Fremont, California plant, the Model S and X have long been challenged in China. Even before the latest trade fallout, the company had already scaled back shipments due to underwhelming demand. In 2024, China imported just 311 units of the Model S and 1,553 of the Model X. Combined, the two models contributed less than half a percent to Tesla’s 657,000-vehicle delivery total in China last year.
Tesla’s Shanghai Gigafactory—which produces the more affordable Model 3 and Model Y for local consumption and global export—continues to be the company’s stronghold in China. In contrast, the Model S and X have been phased out in several international markets, particularly those requiring right-hand drive, including the UK, Japan, and Australia. In those countries, customers were given the option to switch to other models or cancel their orders entirely.
Globally, it’s a similar story. Tesla has stopped sharing individual delivery data for the Model S, X, and Cybertruck, grouping them instead into a miscellaneous “Other Models” category. That category saw just over 85,000 units delivered in 2024—dwarfed by the combined 1.7 million deliveries of the Model 3 and Y.
Adding to the woes of the higher-end Tesla vehicles is the lack of significant updates. The last meaningful refresh for the Model S came in 2021, and while it brought sharper looks and updated hardware, the base price of over $80,000—alongside the even pricier Model X—continues to dampen appeal. Analysts have also pointed to increased competition from Chinese automakers like BYD and a growing backlash against Elon Musk’s public persona as additional factors behind declining demand.
As the EV landscape grows more competitive and geopolitics raise the stakes, Tesla’s premium sedans and SUVs are quietly fading into the background—at least in markets where they were once seen as status symbols.
