Tesla Japan announced on X that it would stop accepting new Model S and Model X orders after 31 March 2025. The decision followed similar changes elsewhere, including a reported suspension of sales in the Middle East. This article examines the announcement and expectations as they stood at the time.

Tesla had previously stopped taking orders for these models in the UK and Australia after withdrawing their right-hand-drive versions. Those markets had once received RHD cars, but Tesla’s move away from that configuration reduced the options available to local buyers.

Was a refresh approaching?

Comments from Tesla engineering vice-president Lars Moravy indicated that the company was working on updates to Model S and Model X. A refresh was therefore one possible explanation discussed for the Japanese order deadline. It was not, by itself, confirmation that a particular production change caused the suspension or that Japanese sales would resume on a specified date.

Unlike Model 3 and Model Y, which were built at multiple plants, Model S and Model X were produced at Fremont and shipped to their destinations. Updating a model can require manufacturing changes, potentially affecting production or deliveries during a transition. At publication, that remained a possible scenario rather than a confirmed explanation for the Japanese decision.

Nuova Tesla Model S e Model X

Steer-by-wire and a 48-volt architecture

One of the possibilities attracting interest was steer-by-wire. By replacing a conventional mechanical steering connection with an electronically controlled system, such a design could offer packaging and manufacturing flexibility, including for left- and right-hand-drive layouts. That did not establish that Tesla planned to bring back RHD versions of these cars.

Cybertruck combined steer-by-wire with a 48-volt low-voltage electrical architecture, prompting speculation about whether the flagship cars might adopt similar technology. Those systems should not be conflated: steer-by-wire does not universally require a 48-volt architecture. Safety redundancy and feedback are engineering requirements for a particular implementation, not evidence that an unannounced Model S or Model X upgrade was confirmed.

Other improvements on the wish list

A refresh also offered room to discuss features that could make Model S and Model X feel more luxurious and better aligned with their premium positioning. The following were suggestions and customer wishes, not an announced equipment list:

  • A powered front boot, allowing the frunk to open and close electrically.
  • Rear-wheel steering to help low-speed manoeuvrability and high-speed stability.
  • Massage seats for additional comfort on long journeys.
  • A digital rear-view mirror to offer an alternative view behind the vehicle.
  • A front-bumper camera to assist with parking and tight manoeuvres.
  • Customisable ambient lighting in the cabin.
  • A head-up display to place selected information closer to the driver’s line of sight.
  • Upgraded interior materials, following the emphasis on cabin improvements seen in other refreshed Tesla models.

The idea behind this wish list was to bring the flagship cars closer to premium buyers’ expectations. Whether any of those features would appear depended on Tesla’s actual product decisions.

Nuova Tesla Model S e Model X

What timing was being discussed?

At publication in March 2025, the order suspension fuelled speculation about a refresh before the end of that year. One possible sequence discussed was selling the existing stock, prioritising North America and later resuming wider distribution with updated cars. Tesla had not confirmed that timetable through the Japanese order announcement.

The article also considered whether other regions might see similar pauses during a transition. Tesla’s plans for a more affordable vehicle in the second quarter of 2025 were another potential demand on development and manufacturing resources. These were expectations from that period, not a current delivery forecast.

Which of those possible upgrades would you have most wanted to see? Share your thoughts in the comments.

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Giorgio Rebecchi

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Giorgio Rebecchi
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