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Tesla Adds Vegan Leather to Model X

 & Stephanie Mlot Contributor

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Tesla Model X vehicles now come with a new-car smell only a vegan could love.

Nextcar Bug artThe electric car maker now offers a faux leather interior option on the Model X, as noted by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). As Business Insider points out, Tesla has long offered cloth interiors for folks who avoid leather as a lower-level option, but they can now pick fake leather for the high-end SUV, too.

The option to substitute artificial leather in the Model X appears on Tesla's website as "Ultra White," according to the New York Times.

"We find that customers enjoy both leather and non-leather options for their Teslas," a company spokeswoman told the Times. "We are committed to giving customers the ability to build the Tesla that meets their needs and lifestyle choices."

Tesla did not immediately respond to PCMag's request for comment.

Other luxury automakers—BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Acura—are also taking steps toward animal-free interiors, Business Insider said.

Tesla's Model X arrived in September for those who placed early pre-orders; everyone else is expected to get theirs sometime this year. The company already shipped 208 SUVs in the fourth quarter of 2015.

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Stephanie Mlot

Stephanie Mlot

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My Experience

  • B.A. in Journalism & Public Relations with minor in Communications Media from Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP)
  • Reporter at The Frederick News-Post (2008-2012)
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