Tesla to end Model S and X to make room for robots
Tesla is preparing to discontinue its larger electric car models, the Model S and Model X, to free up capacity for robot production.
Elon Musk, the owner of the US automaker, said in a conference call with analysts that vehicle owners will continue to receive technical support throughout the life of their vehicles.
Musk said that production of the two models will be phased out in the next quarter.
Released in 2012, the Model S was Tesla’s first vehicle developed entirely in-house.
This helped the company gain a reputation for producing electric cars that offered strong driving range, speed and a distinctive design that could compete with the internal combustion engine vehicles that dominated the market at the time.
This was followed in 2015 by the Model X, known for its hawk-wing doors. Both models have been refreshed several times since their launch.
Recently, newer vehicles such as the Model 3 and Model Y have begun to dominate Tesla’s business and will account for approximately 97 percent of deliveries in 2025.
Tesla plans to use existing production lines of the Model S and Model X to produce humanoid robots known as Optimus. Musk has previously said that he aims to start selling the robots by the end of 2027.
The company also plans to start production of fully autonomous robotaxi vehicles, branded Cybercab, which will have no steering wheel or pedals, in 2026.
Musk said that Tesla expects to produce many more of these vehicles than other models in the future. He added that Cybertruck is expected to be developed as a fully autonomous vehicle.
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