In a somewhat surprising move, Tesla has announced the end of production for their Model S and Model X models of cars in a push towards more robotic automation with Optimus. The Model S led for years as the face of the Tesla brand with the Model X following behind, adding a Luxury SUV to the lineup. Model 3 and Model Y were added later, making the S3XY lineup of cars, announced by Elon Musk. Now Musk has confirmed the end for these two iconic electric vehicles.
Elon Musk’s farewell to Model S/X Production, which will be ending in Q2 2026:
“It's time to basically bring the Model S and X programs to an end with an honorable discharge. We're moving into a future that is based on autonomy. We're going to take the Model S and X production… pic.twitter.com/SsCBXhBynJ
— Nic Cruz Patane (@niccruzpatane) January 28, 2026
Model S and Model X cancelled for next-gen robots says Elon Musk
Confirmed as part of major announcements by Tesla, the Model S and Model X are ending production. These two vehicles are each placed in the Luxury EV category with the baseline prices at $94,990 and $99,990 respectively. Rumors have wondered if the Model X was up for a major remodel after the debut of the modified Model Y L (also known as Model YYY) in the Chinese market.
This extended version of the Model Y, the best selling car in the world, fixed many spacing requests. This made the much more affordable Model Y L a better option for many over the luxurious features of the Model X. With the Tesla Roadster on the way, it seems that these two company changes were the final moment for the Model X and Model S.
Model S & X will live on through me pic.twitter.com/kNXx2eK1U2
— Tesla Optimus (@Tesla_Optimus) January 28, 2026
GROK AI and Optimus lead on
The Tesla brand continues to change and innovate, moving further and faster in the AI market. Summer 2025 saw the GROK AI update which brought a beta version of the AI into select Tesla vehicles. Further updates in late 2025 gave GROK AI the ability to make routes without human intervention. GROK, set to assistant mode, could listen to and speak with the driver or other passengers in the vehicle. These interactions could include questions about location destinations and even automating the driving process to stores or restaurants.
Select cars could update and receive GROK, but those with Hardware 3 tech packages and earlier (HW3 tech ended around 2022 to be replaced by HW4) are still waiting for a GROK iteration. That being said, it hasn’t stopped Tesla from continuing with xAI, Optimus robots and making autonomy the forefront of their business model.
Elon Musk: "In the future, the only vehicles we'll make are autonomous vehicles and the Roadster. We're hoping to debut the Roadster in April."
— Sawyer Merritt (@SawyerMerritt) January 28, 2026
Elon Musk and team are looking towards the end of the human driver, with the exception of the upcoming high-speed Tesla Roadster. Insurance company, Lemonade, even began offering significant discounts for those who use their Tesla in the FSD (Full Self Driving – Supervised) mode. With this mode, the driver must remain alert, but can also remain hands free for up to 100% of driving situations.
Cybercab is purpose built for autonomy
Production starting in April pic.twitter.com/0ciETWRmac
— Tesla (@Tesla) November 6, 2025
Robotaxi and Cybercab, Tesla’s aggressive push for autonomous transport
One vehicle that cannot be missed is the Cybercab, the next big vehicle line-up for Tesla. This golden, autonomous vehicle seeks to lead the world in Robotaxi operations. A vehicle with no steering wheel, mirrors or human driver. The Cybercab goes into production in April with Tesla suggesting they will overtake the autonomous taxi market within two years.
In a world of Waymo and ZOOX, with more competitors on the way, Tesla believes their vision based driving and massive production opportunities will make them victorious. Tesla, along with numerous autonomous companies, are working on getting past regulations in countries worldwide. The EU is a major next step for many as autonomous driving seems less about AI learning and more about breaking through red tape at this point.
In the United States, Tesla FSD is widely used and the Robotaxi offering is being rolled out state by state. Many enthusiasts have flown to Austin, Texas to be amongst the first to test out Tesla’s offering. Tesla expects to begin operations in Nevada, Arizona and Florida soon. This is the end of the Model X and the Model S, but it is the beginning of a new line of vehicle production for the Tesla brand.
