Tesla opened its Model X online design studio to customers in Europe as the all-electric automaker ramps up production of the SUV. Tesla announced the launch Saturday via Twitter.
The online design studio, which allows customers to pick out aesthetic interior details and the battery pack, as well as what their particular configuration will cost, was previously only open to people in North America and those who had reserved the vehicle in advance of its release.
Get Data Sheet, Coins2Day’s technology newsletter.
Tesla (TSLA) publicly delivered the first six “Founders Series” Model Xs for some V.I.P.s during a splashy event at its Fremont, Calif. Factory in late September 2015, after numerous delays. Customers who had put down a $40,000 deposit for a “Signature Series” of the Model X began receiving their vehicles in December. Deliveries to customers in North America who reserved the standard Model X (these required a $5,000 deposit) followed. Tesla Motors expects to begin shipping its Model X in China by June. European Model X reservation holders have shipment dates in the second half of the year, which means customers who configure a vehicle today won’t receive it for many months.
The company opened its online design studio to prospective customers in North America in 2016. Although anticipation for the Model X has been high, not all of those who have purchased the SUV are happy with it. A Consumer Reports article reported in April that widespread reliability issues with the Model X are raising concerns about large warranty claims.
This Model X owner is not happy:
The Model X, Tesla’s third electric car behind the Roadster and Model S sedan, can seat up to seven people and has a range between 237 and 257 miles, depending on the size of the battery pack. The base price of Model X—which has a 75 kilowatt-hour battery pack and no extras—costs $83,000. In France, the most affordable version is 90,600 euros, which includes value added tax (VAT), booking and registration fees.
For now, the Model X has to be shipped from the United States to customers living overseas. Tesla does have one smaller assembly plant in the Netherlands, but the company still makes all of its cars at its Fremont factory. CEO Elon Musk has said he’d like to open more factories around the globe, probably starting with one in China and one in Europe.