Tesla’s Model S and Model X are in their last quarter of production, and that closes a long run for two of the company’s best-known vehicles.
The Model S arrived in 2012. The Model X followed in 2015. Together, they helped turn Tesla from a new EV maker into a major auto brand. The two vehicles gave Tesla early proof that electric cars could be fast, upscale, and practical enough for daily use.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk said in January that the company would end production of both models by the end of Q2 2026. He called for an “honorable discharge” for the S and X and said their time had passed as Tesla moves more of its focus to robotics and AI. Tesla also plans to repurpose the Fremont, California plant lines that build the cars for Optimus robot production.
Why Tesla is moving on
Sales have faded for both models. Buyers have moved more often to the Model 3 and Model Y, which are newer and cheaper. Tesla stopped breaking out S and X sales separately in 2023, folding them into an “other models” category with the Cybertruck and Semi.
That change made it harder to track the two cars on their own, but outside estimates point to a steep drop in volume. Industry reports put combined 2025 sales at about 30,000 units. That is far below the peak years, and it leaves the S and X as niche products inside Tesla’s lineup.
Tesla has delivered more than 750,000 Model S and Model X vehicles since production began, with the S starting in 2012 and the X in 2015. One estimate put cumulative deliveries near 730,000 by late 2024, and later production would push the total higher. That is a large number, and it marks a major part of Tesla’s early growth.
These models mattered beyond sales. They helped Tesla win attention in the premium EV segment and gave the company a base for later volume growth with the Model 3 and Model Y. The two cars also helped set Tesla apart from older carmakers at a time when battery EVs were still new to many buyers.
Once production ends, Tesla’s consumer lineup will be smaller. The Model 3, Model Y, and Cybertruck will remain in production. Tesla has said service and software support for current S and X owners will continue.
Musk has framed the shift as part of a broader push into autonomous driving and humanoid robots. That leaves the Model S and Model X with a clear place in Tesla history, even as their factory run comes to a close.
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