Tesla Model S Celebrates 17th Birthday as Production Ends

The Tesla Model S turns 17 this week, and with production scheduled to end in the second quarter of 2026, the automotive world is preparing to say goodbye.

Elon Musk unveiled the Model S on March 26, 2009, in Hawthorne, California. Arnold Schwarzenegger, then the Governor of California, was in attendance.

Elon Musk unveiling the Tesla Model S 17 years ago.

Arnold Schwarzenegger was in attendance as he was the Governor of California at the time. https://t.co/fhmMawVIbw pic.twitter.com/sVe4qR6tsR

— Nic Cruz Patane (@niccruzpatane) March 26, 2026

The Car That Shattered Every Myth

When the Model S reached customers in 2012, it competed not only with other EVs but also with luxury gasoline models. In 2013, the Model S was named MotorTrend’s Car of the Year by a unanimous vote, the first time in the award’s 64-year history that a non-combustion engine car received the honor.

Consumer Reports gave the 2012 Model S a 99 out of 100 score, the highest it had awarded a vehicle at the time, praising its “invigorating performance” and “world-class” handling. TIME Magazine also listed the 2012 Model S among the top inventions of the past 25 years.

Evolution Over 17 Years

The Model S changed little on the outside over its lifespan, largely keeping its original 2012 silhouette with only minor bumper and headlight updates. Tesla focused on internal improvements, iterating on motors, battery chemistry, and computer hardware while maintaining the exterior design.

Early production vehicles drew criticism for panel gaps and interior quality as the company scaled manufacturing. The 2021 Plaid refresh delivered record performance, including a sub-2-second 0–60 mph time, and pushed toward a “gaming console on wheels” with its own dedicated GPU.

Moving From the Past to the Future

Tesla is discontinuing the Model S as it shifts emphasis from luxury sedans to AI and robotics. The Fremont factory lines that build the Model S are set to be retooled this summer to produce the Optimus humanoid robot.

With Musk recently teasing a completely new model — likely an SUV for customers with larger families — and the next-gen Roadster likely taking over as the high-end performance halo, the Model S is exiting as the company’s lineup evolves.