Tesla to stop selling the base-variants of the Model S and X, says Elon Musk

Tesla will stop selling the base variants of its Model S sedans and Model X SUVs from 14 January onwards. Company CEO Elon Musk said in a tweet that Tesla would no longer take orders for the 75 kWh version of both the Models.

The 100 kWh battery versions of the S and X which are the higher-end models will continue to sell. However, the prices of the models will be increased, according to a report by CNBC. After this change take effect, the prices will change. The starting price for a new Model S will be $94,000 and the starting price for a Model X will be $97,000. [caption id=“attachment_5870631” align=“alignnone” width=“1024”] Tesla model S. Image: Tesla[/caption] There is no information about why the base models are being discontinued. Last week, Tesla announced breaking ground for its Shanghai Gigafactory , which is the company’s first outside the US. In Shanghai, Tesla will begin manufacturing both batteries and the Model 3 electric vehicles by year-end. Company chief Elon Musk  tweeted  in a Twitter thread, ahead of the start of construction of the site, that the factory will produce affordable versions of the Model 3 and Model Y for greater China. Tesla plans to produce its Model 3 and Model Y cars in the initial phase of production at the Shanghai plant, with an annual capacity of 250,000 vehicles. High-volume Model 3 production in Gigafactory 3 is expected to start sometime in 2020. Also, the parents of a  Florida teenager who was killed  when a Tesla sedan crashed and caught fire last year are suing the electric car company alleging that the battery pack on its electric  Model S  is defective and can erupt into intense fires.