Sections

ideals
Business Essentials for Professionals



Companies
10/06/2021

Tesla Launches High-Performance Model S ‘Plaid’ To Rival Luxury Brands Like Mercedes, Porsche




Tesla Launches High-Performance Model S ‘Plaid’ To Rival Luxury Brands Like Mercedes, Porsche
United States based electric car maker Tesla Inc launched a version of its Model S, which will be a high performance vehicle, as the company aims to tackle competition from rivals such as Porsche, Mercedes-Benz and Lucid Motors in the luxury electric vehicle market and to potentially reignite consumer interest in the decade old sedan. 
 
The launch of its high-end Model S that had a sleek design and long driving range had created ripples in the electric cars market in 2012. However that model is currently facing a host of challenges.
 
According to the official Twitter account of Tesla, the launch was held at the US factory of the company at Fremont, California.
 
CEO Elon Musk has been on Twitter to promote the new model which the company has priced at $129,990 compared to the price of $79,990 for a long-range Model S. The latest price for the Model S Plaid is $10,000 more than what was displayed a few days ago on Tesla's website.
 
"The Model S has not been changing a lot in terms of looks over the past almost decade. I think Tesla has to offer consumers something more," said Jessica Caldwell, executive director at car information provider Edmunds said.
 
There has been delay in the launch of the Model S Plaid as well as some controversy over an expected airplane-style yoke steering wheel even though the model was already showcased online. Another variant, Model S Plaid+, had been cancelled by Musk which would have had a 33 per cent longer driving range compared to the Model S Plaid and utilised advanced battery technology, known as 4680 cells.
 
"The Model S Plaid is definitely intended to help reduce the migration of current Tesla owners out of Tesla," said Ed Kim, vice president at consultancy AutoPacific. "I think what we're seeing now is that Tesla can no longer operate in a vacuum," Kim added.
 
Model S Plaid is a low-volume, halo model, he said that the company wants to showcase the abilities of the automaker while also generating excitement around the sedan, with Tesla needing to successfully roll out new models like Cybertruck and Semi trucks to expand its customer base.
 
Musk has called the Model S Plaid "the fastest accelerating car ever."
 
With an estimated driving range of 390 miles, the more powerful sports sedan goes from zero to 60 miles per hour (97 kph) in 1.99 seconds. While the company has made only little changes in the body style as well as in the yoke steering, the Plaid is expected to feature enhanced gaming with new titles and more powerful processors.
 
(Source:www.moneycontrol.com)

Christopher J. Mitchell

Markets | Companies | M&A | Innovation | People | Management | Lifestyle | World | Misc