Tesla Announces the Discontinuation of the Model S and Model X [VIDEO]

Elon Musk announced during the Q4 2025 Earnings Call that Tesla will stop producing the Model S and Model X. Production of these vehicles is scheduled to wind down in the second quarter of 2026.

The announcement was later reiterated by Tesla on X, explicitly linking the decision to Tesla’s pivot towards autonomy.

An Honorable Discharge

Elon described the discontinuation as an honorable discharge for the two vehicles that helped define the modern electric car era. The Model S showed that EVs could be desirable and fun, while the Model X demonstrated engineering audacity, but their role in Tesla’s future has been shrinking for years.

In Q4 2025, the combined sales of Tesla’s “Other Models” (which include the Model S, Model X, Cybertruck, and Semi) accounted for just 11,642 units. When compared to the Model 3 and Model Y sales figures (406,585), they account for just 2.8% of Tesla’s vehicle sales.

The price of these vehicles has fluctuated: the Model S dropped down as low as $75,000 in 2023, and since then prices have climbed to $95,000 with the included Luxe Package.

Price increases and underwhelming refreshes have contributed to declining sales. Many buyers had expected the 2026 refresh to include significant new features such as steer-by-wire, 800V architecture, V2L support, and other features found in the Cybertruck.

Musk’s announcement indicated this was a difficult choice: Tesla expressed regret at retiring the vehicles but said the company’s future is focused on affordable autonomous vehicles, and the Model S/X do not fit that vision.

Why Now?

The pivot is also driven by the need for more factory space. Elon said the floor space currently used to build Tesla’s flagship vehicles at the Fremont factory will be converted to produce the Optimus humanoid robot.

This reallocation is part of Tesla’s transition from a pure automaker to an AI and robotics company. As stated on the Earnings Call, Tesla is moving toward an autonomy-first future, and the S and X, despite their enduring legacy, are physically standing in the way of high-volume Optimus production lines.

Was This a Last-Minute Decision?

Although sales have trended downward for some time, the finality of the announcement surprised many. There were no substantial outward signs of an immediate cancellation prior to the Earnings Call, and Tesla had released a refresh for the Model S and Model X just seven months earlier, which led some to view the decision as last-minute.

The lack of a major design overhaul since the 2021 refresh left the vehicles feeling dated and potential buyers waiting for a larger update. Tesla has also moved features that were once exclusive to the Model S and Model X into the Model 3 and Model Y, including ventilated seats and the rear screen. Some features of the updated Model Y, such as the power rear-folding seats, were not available on the Model X, which is priced at nearly twice the cost.

What This Means for Existing Owners

For thousands of Model S and Model X owners, the discontinuation raises concerns about long-term support.

Parts & Service

Elon explicitly stated that Tesla will continue to support existing owners with parts and service. However, maintaining a discontinued, lower-volume vehicle typically becomes more difficult over time. As years pass, third-party parts availability is likely to be significantly lower than for the ubiquitous Model 3 and Model Y, potentially making repairs more expensive or time-consuming in the next decade.

Yes – we will continue to support Model S & X programs for as long as people own the vehicles (service, software updates, etc)

— Tesla (@Tesla) January 29, 2026

Software Updates

Historically, the Model S and Model X have lagged behind Tesla’s mainstream vehicles in receiving new software features because of their different hardware architectures, dashboard display, and, for legacy vehicles, the vertical display. With production lines stopping, Tesla will likely allocate even fewer engineering resources to adapting future features for the legacy S/X fleet.

Owners should expect a slowing cadence of updates over time as Tesla prioritizes current vehicles.

The Final Call

Tesla posted a message on X the day after the Earnings Call confirming the timeline and thanking the early adopters of the Model S and Model X who helped drive Tesla’s growth. The 2012 Model S was named vehicle of the year by MotorTrend and was also recently named one of the top inventions of the past 25 years.

As we shift to an autonomous future, Model S & X production will wind down next quarter.

If you’d like to own one of them, now’s a good time to place your order.

Tesla wouldn’t be what it is today without Model S & X and their (early) owners – thank you for your support over… pic.twitter.com/4J06T1QjVM

— Tesla (@Tesla) January 29, 2026

For anyone wanting a factory-new example of the car that started it all, the order window is closing quickly. Production is scheduled to cease entirely by the end of Q2 2026.