It happened. The oldest and most expensive Tesla models — the Model S sedan and Model X crossover — are officially going down in history. Elon Musk confirmed that production of these cars has ended, and they are now only available in fixed configurations from stock. What initially was perceived as an April Fool’s joke turned out to be reality: configurators on the company’s websites in Europe and the US are already closed, and available cars are quickly disappearing from inventories.
Robots instead of “falcon wings”
The decision to take the flagships off the production line was not spontaneous. Earlier this year, during a conference call, Musk hinted at the transformation of the Fremont plant, California. Now it’s known what the space is being cleared for: instead of premium electric cars, Tesla plans to produce Optimus humanoid robots. The ambitions are impressive — the company aims to manufacture up to one million robots per year.
Tesla’s flagships going into retirement. Photo: Tesla
Musk called this moment “sad,” but necessary for transforming Tesla into a specialist in autonomous driving and robotics. The Model S and Model X program ends “with all honors,” as these vehicles once proved to the world that an electric car can be fast, prestigious, and technologically advanced. An official event to mark the end of production will be held later.
Pragmatism vs. nostalgia
In the first quarter of 2026, Model S and Model X sales accounted for only 4.7%. Meanwhile, the cheaper Model 3 and Model Y sold over 1.6 million units last year.
Technically, the “old-timers” also started to lose to competitors. While new market players are implementing 800-volt architecture for ultra-fast charging, Tesla continued to exploit older solutions. Even the impressive dynamics of the Plaid version could not compensate for the lack of “innovative” hardware updates. The market demands fresh blood, and Musk seems to have fully shifted focus onto artificial intelligence and autonomy.
What’s next for Tesla?
The disappearance of top models leaves a certain void in the segment, but Tesla seemingly doesn’t care. The main focus shifts to the Cybertruck and the development of the new generation Roadster, which are still in development. Meanwhile, the plant in California is preparing for large-scale re-equipment for the needs of Optimus robots.
