Tesla Ends Model S and Model X Production to Focus on Robotics and Autonomy
Summary
Tesla discontinues its flagship Model S sedan and Model X SUV next quarter as CEO Elon Musk pivots the company toward robotics and autonomous technology, converting Fremont factory space to produce Optimus robots instead of the luxury vehicles that helped establish Tesla's electric vehicle dominance.
Key Points
- Tesla ends production of Model S sedan and Model X SUV next quarter, with CEO Elon Musk citing the company's shift toward autonomy as the reason for discontinuing both luxury electric vehicles
- The Model S, launched in 2012 as Tesla's first ground-up design that made EVs widely appealing, and the Model X SUV from 2015 with complex falcon-wing doors, both face declining sales amid increased competition
- Tesla plans to use the freed-up factory space in Fremont, California to build Optimus robots while continuing Cybertruck production at its Austin facility