Musk announced that Tesla Model S and Model X will be discontinued
After more than a decade on the assembly line, Tesla is preparing to discontinue the Model S and Model X. This was announced by company head Elon Musk.
What is known
The decision was announced during a recent earnings call with investors. It is expected that production of the two flagship models will cease by the end of 2026. At the moment, they do not have direct successors planned.
The age of the models played its part, but the key reason is much more prosaic: the factory where the Model S and Model X are currently assembled is planned to be retooled for the production of humanoid Optimus robots. This is part of Tesla's strategy to develop its robotics direction.
Company head Elon Musk stated that Tesla intends to reach a production volume of up to 1 million Optimus robots per year. During the call, he directly said: “It is time to honorably conclude the Model S and Model X programs because we are moving towards a future based on autonomy.”
Tesla Model X. Photo: Tesla
Once, the Model S and Model X were the showcases of the brand. Especially the Model S, which at different times became the best-selling electric vehicle in the world and effectively set the standards for the entire segment. However, the electric vehicle market has cooled in recent years, and demand for both models has significantly declined.
In 2025, Tesla sold only 5,889 units of the Model S, which is 52.6% less than in 2024 (12,426 units). The Model X performed slightly better, selling 13,066 vehicles, but this also represents a 34.2% drop compared to 19,855 units the previous year. In total, the Model S and Model X sold 18,955 units, just over half the sales of the Model 3 in just one quarter (37,260 vehicles).
Amid these figures, it is clear that the main sales volume has long been sustained by the Model 3 and Model Y. Just in the US in 2025, Tesla sold 192,440 Model 3 vehicles, slightly more than in 2024 (189,903). But the brand's top bestseller remains the Model Y: 357,528 cars were sold over the year.
Source: Autoblog