Shifting

Shift Using the Touchscreen

When you press the brake pedal when parked, the drive mode strip displays on one side of the touchscreen. Use the drive mode strip to shift Model X: swipe up for Drive, swipe down for Reverse or touch the P for Park or N for Neutral. A chime sounds whenever you shift gears.

The touchscreen always shows which gear Model X is in, but the drive mode strip is hidden when driving at highway speeds. To show the drive mode strip at any time, swipe from the edge of the touchscreen towards the passenger.

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Note
To shift from Drive into Reverse or vice versa, the driving speed must be less than 8 km/h.

The touchscreen's drive mode strip displays Park and Neutral at all times. To shift into Park when driving below 8 km/h, touch the button on the drive mode strip while pressing the brake pedal. In emergency situations when driving above 8 km/h, press and hold the Park button to slowly bring the vehicle to a stop.

To shift into Neutral, open Controls to bring up the drive mode strip, then press and hold Neutral until Neutral engages.

The touchscreen is the preferred method to manually shift. However, in the unlikely situation in which the touchscreen is unavailable and therefore can't be used, the drive mode selector on the center console automatically activates and must be used to shift (see Shift Using the Center Console).

If you try to shift when it is prohibited by the current driving speed, the instrument panel displays an alert, a chime sounds, and the drive mode does not change.

Shift Using the Center Console

In addition to manually shifting on the touchscreen, you can shift by pressing P, R, N or D located on the center console. In most situations, these buttons are not available until you press one of the buttons to activate it. When active, the LEDs associated with each button illuminate and when you select P, R, N or D, the associated LED illuminates amber.

In situations where the touchscreen is unavailable (for example, experiencing a technical issue), or Model X is in Valet or Transport Mode, the drive mode selector on the center console activates automatically and there is no need to touch it.

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Note
You can also activate the drive mode selector on the center console by simultaneously and briefly pressing both scroll buttons on the steering yoke (or steering wheel). However, if you press and hold both buttons simultaneously, the drive mode selector activates and the touchscreen restarts (see Restarting the Touchscreen).
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Note
The front trunk, rear trunk, and doors must be closed to shift using the center console.
Initials P, R, N and D on the center console with callouts
  1. Park
  2. Reverse
  3. Neutral
  4. Drive
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Note
When the touchscreen is available for shifting and you have manually activated the drive mode selector on the center console, the center console automatically deactivates if you don't shift within 10 seconds.

Park

To manually shift into Park, press the brake pedal and touch the Park button on the touchscreen's drive mode strip. If the touchscreen is unavailable, press Park on the drive mode selector located on the center console.

Model X automatically shifts into Park to prevent roll-away while driving in low speeds. This happens whenever you connect a charge cable, unbuckle your seat belt, or open the door while in Drive or Neutral. Ensure the charge cable is removed, buckle your seat belt, and close the door before shifting from Park.

Attempting to engage the parking brake above 8 km/h will result in emergency braking (see Braking and Stopping).

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Note
In emergency situations, if the brakes are not functioning properly, you can press and hold the Park button on the touchscreen's drive mode strip to bring Model X to a stop. Do not use this method to stop the vehicle unless absolutely necessary.
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Note
You must always press the brake pedal to shift from Park.
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CAUTION
Model X will not shift from Park if a charge cable is plugged in, or if the charge port is unable to determine whether a charging cable is plugged in. In situations when Model X does not shift from Park, check the instrument panel or touchscreen for instructions on how to proceed.
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Warning
It is the driver's responsibility to always ensure the vehicle is in Park before exiting. Never rely on Model X to automatically shift into Park for you.

Drive

To manually shift into Drive, swipe up on the drive mode strip located on the touchscreen or, if the touchscreen is unavailable, press D on the drive mode selector located on the center console. You can shift into Drive when Model X is stopped or moving less than 8 km/h in Reverse.

Reverse

To manually shift into Reverse, swipe down on the drive mode strip located on the touchscreen or, if the touchscreen is unavailable, press R on the drive mode selector located on the center console. You can shift into Reverse when Model X is stopped or moving less than 8 km/h in Drive. You can manually close the park assist view on the touchscreen by touching the X in the upper corner.

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Note
Audio volume may temporarily lower when you shift into Reverse.

Neutral

Neutral allows Model X to roll freely when you are not pressing the brake pedal. To shift into Neutral, do any of the following:

  • Press and hold the Neutral icon on the drive mode strip until Model X engages Neutral.
  • Choose Neutral from the drive mode selector on the center console.
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Note
When Model X is traveling over 8 km/h and you swipe up or down on the touchscreen's drive mode strip, a Neutral icon displays at the bottom of the drive mode strip from which you can also choose to engage Neutral.
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Note
You must press the brake pedal to shift out of Neutral if Model X is moving slower than approximately 8 km/h.

Model X automatically shifts into Park when you open the driver's door to exit the vehicle unless the vehicle is in certain modes such as Transport or Car Wash Mode which allows the vehicle to stay in Neutral even when you leave.

Keeping Your Vehicle in Neutral (Transport Mode)

To keep Model X in Neutral when you exit, allowing it to roll freely (for example, pulling onto a flatbed truck), you must activate Transport mode:

  1. Shift into Park.
  2. Press the brake pedal.
  3. Touch Controls > Service > Towing. The touchscreen displays a message reminding you how to properly transport Model X.
  4. Touch Enter Transport Mode. The button turns blue to show that Model X is now in Transport Mode. Model X is now free-rolling and can be rolled slowly (no faster than walking speed) for short distances or winched (for example, onto a flatbed truck).

For more information on Transport Mode, see Activate Transport Mode.

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Note
In Transport Mode, Model X does not shift into a drive mode. You must first cancel Transport Mode by touching Exit Transport Mode. Transport Mode also cancels if you use the touchscreen to shift into Park.