Tesla has stopped taking new orders for its American-made Model S and Model X cars in China. This move comes as the Chinese Communist Party has hiked tariffs on American imports, likely in response to President Donald Trump’s efforts to level the playing field on global trade.
The pause in orders for both models, visible on Tesla’s official Chinese website, allegedly impacts only the vehicles built in the United States. It does not affect the Model 3 or Model Y, which are produced at Tesla’s Giga Shanghai factory and continue to be sold in China and exported to Europe.
The change follows China’s retaliation decision to raise tariffs on American auto imports to a staggering 125%, a clear escalation after President Trump raised tariffs on Chinese goods, as previously covered by The Dallas Express.
However, as of Friday, Tesla had not yet released an official comment on the pause in sales to China.
Fortunately for Elon Musk, the Model S and Model X account for only a small fraction of Tesla’s global deliveries—less than 0.5% of its over 657,000 vehicles sold in China last year, according to Reuters.
The sudden stop of Model S and X sales to China seems to send a clear message: America is done playing by trade rules that only benefit Beijing.
Musk has never been one to follow the script, consistently refusing to bow to regulatory overreach. This was evident when he moved the majority of his businesses’ headquarters to Texas after a soured relationship with California’s progressive standards.
Despite growing pressure and outlandish violent protests against the company, Tesla continues to thrive. Their Giga Shanghai exports and the Cybertruck rollout are building a buzz back home.
If Tesla’s recent moves are any indication, the future of American trade doesn’t depend on bowing to China’s huge tariffs.