Tesla’s powerful new battery pack won’t increase sales: Kelley Blue Book
Tesla’s powerful new 100kWh battery pack is unlikely to boost sales significantly because the $20,000 price tag for the upgrade is the entire budget many Americans would have for a vehicle, according to Karl Brauer, senior editor at influential US vehicle valuation and automotive research company, Kelley Blue Book. Brauer said: “This isn't going to be big shift in sales but huge additional increase in productivity capability… If [ Elon Musk] thinks he can sell incrementally more cars with incrementally better range and power, then that's an incremental improvement for the company…but I think Tesla needs more than an incremental improvement these days."

The new Tesla battery pack is unlikely to boost sales much, when existing drivers are being charged $20,000 for the upgrade, a Kelley Blue Book expert told CNBC.

Tesla announced new versions of its Model S sedan and Model X crossover on Tuesday, with substantially faster acceleration and an improved battery range.

The new Model S P100D with Tesla's speed option upgrade, called Ludicrous mode, has a more powerful 100 kilowatt-hour battery with a 315-mile battery range, while the new Model X P100D with Ludicrous mode will get an improved range of 289 miles.

The Model S P100D will start at $134,500 and the Model X 100D will start at $135,500, but owners of earlier models will be able to buy the better specs for $20,000, while those who currently have a vehicle on order will pay $10,000.

Karl Brauer, senior editor at Kelley Blue Book, pointed out that $20,000 cost to existing Telsa customers could cover the cost of a whole new car in the U.S. Kelley Blue Book is an influential U.S. vehicle valuation and automotive research company.

"It's an impressive acceleration and range number [but] it doesn't apply to most Americans out there," Brauer said, adding that there were many cars available in the $20,000-$25,000 price range.