The Model S and Model X are done. During Tesla's fourth quarter earnings call on January 28, CEO Elon Musk confirmed both vehicles will stop production by the end of Q2 2026, and the Fremont factory space they occupy will be converted into a production line for Optimus humanoid robots.
"It's time to basically bring the Model S and X programs to an end with an honorable discharge," Musk told analysts, according to multiple sources including CNBC and Autoweek. He added that anyone still wanting to buy one should order now.
The Model S launched in 2012 and genuinely changed what people thought an electric car could be. It topped owner satisfaction surveys, outsold every other EV on the market at multiple points, and won Motor Trend Car of the Year in 2013. The Model X followed in 2015, falcon wing doors and all. Together, they built Tesla's reputation before the Model 3 and Y existed.
But the numbers told the story long before Musk made the call. In 2025, Tesla sold just under 19,000 combined Model S and X units in the U.S., according to Autoblog. The Model 3 and Y moved over 1.5 million vehicles in the same period. The S and X were ghosts on the production line.
Musk's long-term target is manufacturing one million Optimus robots annually in the space currently used for S and X production. The third-generation Optimus, described as the first version designed for mass production, is expected to be revealed later this quarter. Whether it actually ships is another matter entirely. Musk has a well-documented history of missed robotics and autonomous vehicle deadlines, and Jalopnik noted the skepticism openly.
Tesla's broader financial picture adds context. Annual profit dropped 46% in 2025, revenue from vehicle sales fell 11% year on year, and the company also revealed a $2 billion investment into Musk's separate AI venture xAI, which shareholders have already challenged in court.
The Model S deserved better than a quiet sign-off buried in an earnings call. It earned its place in automotive history. But Tesla stopped making it better years ago, and the market noticed long before Musk pulled the plug.
Now the question nobody wants to answer out loud: is Tesla still a car company?
