Tesla Opens First South Korean Stores, Wait List To Test Drive Model S Is Six Months Long

Tesla has just opened two brand new showrooms in South Korea, and it appears that everyone has been very excited to test drive the company’s vehicles, so much so that the wait list to take the Model S on a joyride is already six months long.

According to Forbes, the outlets that opened in South Korea are situated in the affluent Cheongdam-dong district of Gangnam in Seoul, and in Hanam. Both showrooms will only be offering the dual-motor, all-wheel-drive Model S 90D luxury sedan. Each showroom is said to be offering only 10 test drives a day, and because the wait list is so long, it was said that it’s faster to buy the car outright than to wait to test drive the vehicle for 20 to 30 minutes.

It usually takes three months to manufacture and ship a Model S 90D from Tesla’s California base, and South Koreans can’t wait to have their very own Tesla as a few customers have already placed their orders at both showrooms. Each car is said to cost 121 million won, or about $107,000. Those who have placed their orders this month will be getting their brand new cars by June.

It appears that those who have just recently put in their orders are on to something, as it was recently reported that Tesla Model S prices are about to go up. According to Madison, the price increase is due to Tesla’s preparation to discontinue the current entry-level 60kWh model. The last day that prospective customers can purchase the 60kWh version is on April 16.

The reason why Elon Musk’s company is discontinuing the vehicle is because most customers would often purchase the upgrade to a 75kWh battery, which can be unlocked via a software update. As the company is streamlining the ordering process, the entry-level Model S will be the single motor 75kWh model, which is said to cost $74,500.

For more, check out Jobs & Hire’s report on Tesla selling its stock to raise funds for Model 3 production.

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