The refresh would need large investment. And it seems that S/X weren't selling that well to warrant such an investment. Just looking around - SV, a key market for Tesla - everybody buys 3 and Y, not S and X. In some sense it seems that 3/Y cannibalized S/X.

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the_mitsuhiko 3 hours ago | parent | next [-]

How can legacy auto refresh models every two years and Tesla cannot?

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antiframe 40 minutes ago | parent [-]

Perhaps it has to do with sales numbers? The Model S and Model X were not selling well.

	▲	the_mitsuhiko 2 minutes ago \| parent [-]
		Pretty sure the Mercedes S-Class is also not selling a ton of units.

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AlexandrB 4 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

I don't know if it's genius or madness, but all of Tesla's cars look the same. When I see a Tesla, I can't tell if it's a 3, S, X, or Y unless I get close. The most distinct one is the X with its fancy doors.

So when I hear they're cancelling the S and X I can't even picture which cars we're talking about.

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Cthulhu_ 10 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

While that's true, S/X were considered luxury vehicles, 3/Y mainstream and they far, FAR outsold the S/X. In most cases, volume trumps individual prices.

Of course, that doesn't mean they had to discontinue those lines.

	▲	dybber 3 hours ago \| parent [-]
		As luxury vehicles they were also competing in a different market, where competitors have caught up.

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panick21_ 5 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

The problem is just there is no concept of a car company where they only sell their standard mass market vehicles. Somewhat more expensive higher margin vehicles are in the lineup for almost all the other companies. Its kind of strange to suggest its not worth it when it is seemingly worth it for most other companies.

Maybe the wisdom of having a 'full lineup' is wrong and has to do with making dealers happy.

On the other hand, having 99% of your sales be 2 very similar vehicles seems questionable strategy.