Tesla's two oldest vehicles are heading for retirement. During the Q4 2025 earnings call on 28 January 2026, Elon Musk announced that Model S and Model X production will end by the close of Q2 2026.
"It's time to basically bring the Model S and X programs to an end with an honorable discharge," Musk said. "If you're interested in buying a Model S and X, now would be the time to order it."
The Numbers Tell the Story
Combined global deliveries of Model S and Model X totalled approximately 30,000 units in 2025. The Fremont factory section dedicated to these models has annual capacity of roughly 100,000 units, implying utilisation near 30%. At that level, the economics no longer justify continued production.
The decline has been years in the making. Both models received their last major refresh in 2021, and prices have been cut repeatedly as competition from Porsche, Mercedes, and BMW intensified at the luxury end of the EV market.
What Replaces Them
The Fremont production lines will be repurposed for Optimus humanoid robot manufacturing. Musk stated that Tesla is targeting one million Optimus units per year from the facility, with the Gen 3 Optimus being the company's first mass-production robot design. Production is expected to begin by end of 2026.
The pivot from luxury sedans to humanoid robots captures something essential about Tesla's current strategic direction: the company sees its future in AI and robotics, not in low-volume premium vehicles.
European Impact
Model S and Model X were never volume sellers in Europe, but they served an important role as halo products. The Model S, in particular, was the vehicle that established Tesla's reputation in markets like Norway, the Netherlands, and Germany.
For existing European owners, Tesla says it will continue to support the vehicles through its service network. Spare parts availability for the long term is less certain, though Tesla's vertically integrated supply chain means many components are manufactured in-house.
A Collector's Moment
With production ending within months, remaining inventory is limited — approximately 600 units globally as of early 2026. For those who want the last of a pioneering line, the window is closing fast.