Written by Cláudio Afonso | LinkedIn | X
Tesla said on Thursday it is halting sales of its Model S and Model X models in Japan by the end of this month. Last year, CEO Elon Musk said the company “should at least have a market share proportionate” to German premium brands Mercedes and BMW.
“Production of the Model S and Model X for the Japanese market will end on March 31, 2025” the company wrote on X while noting that only inventory and used vehicles will remain for sale.
“Starting April 1, 2025, only inventory and used vehicles will be available for purchase, and new custom orders will no longer be accepted,” Tesla stated.
In 2010, Elon Musk forecasted that Japan would become Tesla’s biggest international market beyond the United States.
“This period marks the final opportunity to purchase a new Model S or Model X in Japan, so if you are considering a purchase, we encourage you to place your order as soon as possible,” the company added in a X post.
“Japan is the third-largest car market in the world of any country. So we should at least have a market share proportionate to, say, other non-Japanese carmakers like Mercedes or BMW, which we do not currently have,” Musk said in January 2024.
Last month, the company’s VP of Vehicle Engineering, Lars Moravy, hinted at potential updates for the Model S and Model X during an appearance on the Ride the Lightning podcast.
When asked whether any changes were coming for the flagship models, Moravy responded, “Just give it a minute, we’ll get there.”
Tesla last refreshed the Model S and Model X in early 2021, introducing slight exterior changes and a significantly improved interior. The update added retractable cupholders, deep front-door storage pockets, a second-row touchscreen infotainment display, and a redesigned center console with an armrest, cupholders, and wireless device charging.
