Tesla is ending production of its two most prestigious models to make room for the ambitious Optimus humanoid robot project.
Let's face it, the world has changed. When Tesla Model S in 2012 first rolled off the assembly lines, traditional German manufacturers laughed at it with that typical Bavarian cynicism, saying: “Look at these Americans, they’re playing with laptop batteries.” Today, no one laughs anymore. The Model S didn’t just change motoring; it beat it up, threw it in the trash, and rewrote the rules of the game.
Last year, in the article TESLA will no longer make cars by 2030, we predicted this very scenario.
But as the old saying goes – or maybe just Jeremy Clarkson after the third glass of gin – all good things must come to an end. Elon Musk just announced that the Model S and its winged sibling, the Model X, are saying goodbye. Not because they're no longer good, but because Tesla needs room for something that doesn't have a steering wheel, but does have two legs and a metal butt: the Optimus robot.
Honorary discharge for the king of acceleration
Elon Musk In his characteristic style, he said it was time for an “honorable discharge.” And it was. Tesla Model S Plaid, a three-engine beast with 760 kW (1,020 hp), is still a car that will move your internal organs to places you never knew existed, with acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in a mere 2.1 seconds (0–60 mph in 1.99 s). Its top speed of 322 km/h (200 mph) has been an unattainable fortress for most of the competition for years.
Tesla Model S was the one who proved that electric cars could be sexy, fast and actually useful. With a battery capacity of around 100 kWh and a range that in recent versions exceeded 600 km (373 miles), it silenced all those who complained about “range anxiety”.
As we shift to an autonomous future, Model S & X production will wind down next quarter.
If you'd like to own one of them, now's a good time to place your order.
Tesla wouldn't be what it is today without Model S & X and their (early) owners – thank you for your support over… pic.twitter.com/4J06T1QjVM
— Tesla (@Tesla) January 29, 2026
Model X: Wings that flew into history
Then there's the Tesla Model X. A car that had more technological tricks than James Bond in his prime. Its "Falcon Wing" rear doors were both ingenious and completely pointless—the perfect combination for a lifestyle icon. Despite its weight, the Plaid version hit 62 mph in 2.6 seconds (0–60 mph in 2.5 seconds), faster than most Ferraris while carrying shopping bags and a Labrador in the trunk.
The latest updates in 2025 brought a bit more range – up to 566 km (352 miles) – but the numbers are relentless. In 2025, Tesla sold over 1.6 million Model 3 and Model Y units, while the Model S, X and Cybertruck combined only reached just over 50,000 units. In the world of capitalism where Elon rules, this means only one thing: You can’t resist change.
The future is humanoid (and slightly creepy)
Why build luxury sedans when you can build an army of robots? Tesla plans to produce up to 1 million Optimus robots a year. The factory in Fremont, California, will be transformed into a futuristic incubator for humanoids that will do our boring jobs for us.
“We are truly moving into a future based on autonomy,” Musk says. And while we may miss the sound of silence (ironic, right?) as the Model S whizzed past us on the highway, we have to admit that it was a ride worth every kilowatt.
Conclusion: Goodbye, old friend
Is this a sad day? Perhaps for those of us who appreciate the classic lines of the Model S. It was stylish, technologically advanced, and in its Plaid guise, outrageously fast. The Model X? Well, to be fair, we might not miss its intricate doors and constant beeping sensors so much, but we have to respect its audacity.
Tesla remains with the Model 3, Model Y and the controversial Cybertruck, but the soul of the brand moves to the programmed metal of the Optimus. Prices for the latest Model S in Europe are around €95,000, while you'll pay about ten thousand more for the Model X. If you want a piece of history that can put supercars to shame at traffic lights, now is your last chance.
My advice? Buy a used Plaid, enjoy the blurring acceleration, and smile at the robot when it passes you on the sidewalk in five years. The future may be strange, but at least we won't be bored.
