Tesla is preparing to close a major chapter in its history. CEO Elon Musk has confirmed that production of the Tesla Model S and Model X will end in the second quarter of this year, with the company repurposing factory space to build its Optimus humanoid robots.
Musk shared the news during Tesla’s latest earnings call, framing the decision as part of a broader shift away from being a traditional automaker and toward autonomous vehicles and AI-driven robotics.
Both models will be phased out at Tesla’s Fremont, California facility to make room for Optimus production, which Musk claims could eventually reach an incredible one million units annually.
The move comes despite both the Model S and Model X receiving a refresh as recently as last year.
The 2012 introduction of the Tesla Model S will go down in history as the vehicle that completely altered public perceptions of electric vehicles.
It proved EVs could be fast, desirable, and genuinely aspirational, helping Tesla establish itself as a serious force in the automotive industry.
The Model X followed in 2016, carving out its own niche with dramatic falcon-wing doors and supercar-level straight-line pace in SUV form.
Sales of both models have declined in recent years as prices climbed and newer Teslas took center stage, but their impact is undeniable.
As Tesla looks toward a future defined by autonomy and robotics, the Model S and Model X bow out as icons symbols of the moment electric cars stopped being an experiment and started becoming the future.
