Previously, Tesla and Musk promised fans
the tri-motor, 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 count above 50 million:
"Plaid+ is canceled. No need, as Plaid
is just so good." He added, "0 to 60mph in under 2 secs. Quickest
production car ever made of any kind. Has to be felt to be believed."
In March, Tesla raised the price of the
Model S Plaid Plus by $10,000 bringing it to about $150,000. The option to
order the Model S Plaid Plus variant was removed from Tesla's website around
the last week of May, according to a CNET report.
The remaining high-end version of the Model
S Plaid will cost around $119,900 and feature a 390-mile range battery, with
1,020 horsepower and acceleration from 0 to 60 miles per hour in two seconds,
among other features.
Musk previously planned a
"delivery" ceremony at the Tesla factory in Fremont, California for
the Model S Plaid on June 3. As the date approached, he delayed this until June
10 saying the vehicle still needed "one more week of tweak."
Like other North American automakers, Tesla
has been grappling with supply chain issues especially a computer chip
shortage.
The company recently removed radar sensors
and lumbar support from the front passenger seats in its lower-priced Model 3
sedan and Model Y crossover for customers in North America.
It produced none of the higher-priced Model
S or Model X vehicles during the first quarter of 2021, even though Musk had
said production was underway during a 2020 fourth-quarter earnings call.
By April 26 on Tesla's next earnings call
Musk was saying:
"Q1 had some of the most difficult supply
chain challenges that we've ever experienced in the life of Tesla. Insane
difficulties with the supply chains with parts, over the whole range of parts.
Obviously, we were upset about the chip shortage. This is a huge problem."
He also spoke about technical challenges
developing and figuring out how to manufacture new versions of the Model S
sedan and 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, which has a revised interior and new battery
pack and new drive units and new internal electronics and has resembled a
high-station level infotainment system." He added, "It took quite a
bit of development to ensure that the battery of the new S and X is safe."
Meanwhile the company has increased prices
for different variants of its more popular Model 3 and Model Y vehicles in the
U.S. several times this year. Musk blamed the price increases on supply chain
issues as well. He wrote in a tweet on May 31, "Prices increasing due to
major supply chain price pressure industry-wide. Raw materials
especially."