Elon Musk tweeted on Monday that the recent price increases for Tesla models have come in response to “major supply chain price pressure.”
The tweet was a response to criticism from Twitter user @Ryanth3nerd about removing adjustable lumbar support from some Model Y seats and the rumors that FSD’s price would rise to $14,000.
“I really don’t like the direction @tesla is going,” said @Ryanth3nerd.
In response, Musk claimed that adjustable lumbar support was only removed from the front passenger seat in response to data that showed little use among owners. He claimed that it was not, therefore, worth the cost or the weight.
Read Also: Another Week And Another Price Increase For The Tesla Model 3 And Y
Moving lumbar was removed only in front passenger seat of 3/Y (obv not there in rear seats). Logs showed almost no usage. Not worth cost/mass for everyone when almost never used.
Prices increasing due to major supply chain price pressure industry-wide. Raw materials especially.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 31, 2021
He blamed the price increases on material costs that are affecting the industry, blaming “raw materials especially.”
The incremental price hikes for the Model 3 and Model Y have been coming frequently, though. In April, Electrek reported that the brand had increased the Model 3’s price five times in 2021 alone. Then, on May 24, Tesla raised the price again.
That means that the Tesla Model 3 standard range now starts at $39,990, up from $36,990 in February.
Although Tesla sales remain strong, the company has courted controversy recently. The Model 3 was stripped of its IIHS Safety Award after removing radar, Tesla vehicles were banned at certain government buildings in China, and the Model S Plaid’s launched was pushed back a week. Pre-orders for the Cybertruck reportedly topped a million recently, though, so the company has seen some successes, too.
