It is the end of an era: Tesla has officially discontinued production of the Model S and Model X. CEO Elon Musk confirmed on his Platform X that individual orders are no longer possible – there are only just under 600 vehicles left in stock worldwide. For anyone who has been toying with the idea of buying one of Tesla’s flagship models for a long time, now really is the last chance.
From revolution to discontinued model: the history of the Model S and Model X
The Tesla Model S came onto the market in 2012 and was Tesla’s first electric car to be produced on a truly large scale. With a range that eclipsed all other electric cars at the time, it proved that electric vehicles need not be a compromise. In 2015 and 2016, the Model S was even the best-selling electric car worldwide, with over 50,000 units delivered in 2015 alone. Three years after the Model S, the Model X followed – a large SUV with three rows of seats and the iconic Falcon Wing doors that open upwards. Together, both models achieved over 610,000 deliveries in their lifetime.
However, their fame increasingly faded. While competitors such as Mercedes, BMW, Porsche and Lucid invested heavily in new luxury electric cars, the Model S and Model X only received minimal updates. Tesla’s focus clearly shifted towards the Model 3 and Model Y volume models. In 2025, Model S and Model X, together with Cybertruck and Tesla Semi, accounted for just 50,850 deliveries – with an annual production capacity of 100,000 units for the luxury models alone. In comparison: Model 3 and Model Y came to around 1.6 million units in the same year. A June 2025 facelift with new paint colors, a front camera and a range improvement as well as a price increase of 5,000 US dollars could not stop the downward trend.
In Germany, the end was felt early on: as we reported in summer 2025, the Model S and Model X were removed from the configurator in this country – fewer than 60 new registrations were recorded for each model in the first half of 2025.
Elon Musk announces the official end of production
Musk had already announced the end of production for Q2 2026 at the Q4 2025 analyst conference in January and spoke of an “honorable dismissal”. The official confirmation via X followed at the beginning of April: “Special orders for the Tesla Model S and X are now closed. There are only a few vehicles left in stock. We will be hosting an official celebration to mark the end of an era. I love these cars.” Musk also posted a photo of himself at the start of production of the Model S 14 years ago.
Tesla had already sent an email to US customers on March 27, 2026, announcing the end of production. It stated that the two models had paved the way for an electric future – and that they were now making way for an autonomous future.
Fremont plant to be converted for Optimus robots
The production capacity freed up at Tesla’s main plant in Fremont, California, is to be used for the humanoid robot Optimus in future. Musk has set a target of producing one million Optimus units per year there – although he himself emphasizes that the ramp-up will be slower than usual due to the new supply chains to be set up. At the same time, production of the Cybercab robotaxi vehicle without a steering wheel and pedals is to begin. Tesla is thus consistently transforming itself from a traditional car manufacturer into a company that focuses on autonomy and robotics. As we have already reported, Tesla is pursuing extremely ambitious goals with the Optimus robot.
What remains for buyers of the last remaining stocks?
If you still want to get your hands on a new Model S or Model X, you have to be quick – and look to the USA. According to current inventory data, there are no new vehicles left in Europe and Canada. In the USA, around 295 Model S and 301 Model X are currently still available, mainly as pre-configured stock vehicles. Tesla offers attractive extras for these remaining stocks: lifetime premium connectivity including satellite maps and video streaming as well as free DC fast charging at the Superchargers. Price discounts ranging from the equivalent of around 1,500 to over 7,000 US dollars are possible depending on location and vehicle.
There is good news for existing owners: Tesla has pledged to maintain technical support for Model S and Model X for the life of the vehicle.
Conclusion: The end of the Tesla Model S and Model X
The discontinuation of the Tesla Model S and Model X marks the end of an era. The two models proved that electric cars do not have to be boring, slow or have a short range – and thus changed the entire industry. The fact that Tesla is now discontinuing production of the Model S and Model X is the logical consequence of falling sales figures and the strategic shift towards autonomy and robotics. What comes next from Fremont will show whether Elon Musk’s big bet on Optimus and Robotaxis pays off. We will continue to follow it on basic-tutorials.de. Tesla’s sales figures in Europe will also be an important indicator.
