Tesla price hike: Elon Musk-led EV maker raises Model S and X prices by $5,000 in US after upgrades; premium variants now start at $84,990 – Times of India

Tesla has increased prices of its Model S and Model X vehicles in the United States by $5,000 following an update to the two premium electric models, the company announced Thursday via a post on X and updates to its official website.The price hike applies to all configurations of both models. With the adjustment, the dual-motor all-wheel drive (AWD) version of the Model S now starts at $84,990, while the high-performance Plaid variant is priced at $99,990. Similarly, the Model X AWD now costs $89,990, and the Model X Plaid is listed at $104,990, Reuters reported.Earlier, Elon Musk announced Tuesday that Tesla is “tentatively” launching its long-anticipated robotaxi service in Austin, Texas, on June 22. The move marks a significant leap in Tesla’s autonomous driving ambitions, with Musk emphasizing a cautious approach: “We are being super paranoid about safety, so the date could shift,” he said in a post on social media platform X.Musk also noted that the first Tesla to fully self-drive from the end of the production line to a customer’s home is scheduled for June 28—an industry-first if achieved.The vehicles involved in the rollout are reportedly unmodified Tesla Model Ys, built with the Full Self-Driving (FSD) software pre-installed and capable of operating without human intervention. A recent video circulating online showed a Model Y in Austin, branded with a “Robotaxi” logo, transporting a passenger without a driver onboard. Musk confirmed the footage, stating that “every Tesla coming out of our factories is capable of unsupervised self-driving.“This announcement brings Tesla closer to fulfilling a promise Musk has been making for years—commercializing fully autonomous vehicles. The initial rollout will reportedly include around 10 vehicles, operating under remote supervision and within a geofenced area. Musk said the service will quickly expand to other metro areas including Los Angeles, San Antonio, and San Francisco.