In short: for practical reasons, left-hand drive is what most brands largely want to bet on. Tesla even goes a step further and stops with the right-hand drive versions of the Model S and Model X. If asked, the American carmaker indicates to Autocar that it is indeed for practical reasons. For example, Tesla talks about “being able to build their cars more efficiently” and ” being able to improve interior quality.”
Tesla also says that making right-hand drive cars involves additional complexity, both mechanically and logistically. The brand sees it as reason enough to just cut right-hand drive, which is a thing in the UK. They offer Tesla buyers and people who have one on order two options.
Tesla is cutting right away with the right-hand drive S and X, but there are people who had ordered an S or X before this news and therefore expected a right-hand drive copy. Those people are told that they still get the car, but with the steering wheel on the ‘wrong’ side. Anyone who has ever driven a car to the UK knows that driving on the wrong side in relation to your handlebars is best, but it is not always practical.
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Another option is that you buy the Teslas that are available with right-hand drive, the Model 3 and Model Y. For the inconvenience, Tesla makes 2,000 pounds available for people who transfer their S or X to a 3 or Y. incidentally, Tesla will offer the Plaid with their left-hand drive models for the UK. It was not there yet with the steering wheel on the right and will therefore never come. But Englishmen who don’t mind having their handlebars on the other side can enjoy the 1,020 HP top version.
The English don’t make it easy for themselves. It is the only major European country that still drives on the other side of the road. In order for this mirrored place on the road to feel a little normal, the cars are also mirrored. Nothing special so far.
Still, not all of it is ideal for automakers to build cars with the steering wheel on the right. After all, it takes extra effort to have to design everything in a mirror image, not to mention, for example, specially designed replacement parts for the small share of markets that still drive on the right. In addition, the English second-hand market is also special, because in other markets the cars are by definition less attractive and so cars depreciate very differently (read: more).
