Tesla Tears Down Model S/X Line In Just 46 Days For Optimus Production

• On January 28, during Tesla’s fourth-quarter 2025 earnings call, CEO Elon Musk announced the wind-down of Model S and X. 
• Tesla plans to begin limited Optimus production at the converted Fremont facility in late July or August 2026.
• The third-generation (Gen 3) Optimus robot — intended for mass production — is slated for unveiling around mid-2026.

EV giant Tesla Inc (TSLA) said on Friday that it has completed dismantling the original assembly line for its flagship Model S sedan and Model X SUV at its Fremont factory, completing the decommissioning in just 46 days.

Tesla posted a video on X capturing heavy machinery tearing out concrete trenches, removing robotic equipment, and workers installing rebar for new flooring to pave the way toward humanoid robotics. Later frames reveal a partially cleared floor being prepped for new infrastructure.

TSLA stock closed up 0.3% on Friday.

Model S, X Retirement

The Model S, introduced in 2012, and the Model X, launched in 2015, played pivotal roles in establishing Tesla as a serious contender in the automotive industry. Together, the two nameplates sold around 750,000 units over their lifetimes, though production slowed in recent years in favor of the lower-priced Model Y and Model 3 vehicles.

On January 28, during Tesla’s fourth-quarter 2025 earnings call, CEO Elon Musk announced the wind-down of the two models. “It’s time to basically bring the Model S and X programs to an end with an honorable discharge,” he said, citing the company’s pivot toward an “autonomous future.” The final vehicles rolled off the line in early May 2026.

What Next For Fremont?

The freed space at Fremont is being converted into Tesla’s first dedicated Optimus humanoid robot production line.

Tesla plans to begin limited Optimus production at the converted Fremont facility in late July or August 2026. The initial line is designed with long-term capacity for up to 1 million robots per year, though Musk has cautioned that early output will be “quite slow” due to the complexity of a new manufacturing process involving roughly 10,000 unique parts and the absence of an established humanoid robot supply chain.

The third-generation (Gen 3) Optimus robot — intended for mass production — is slated for unveiling around mid-2026. Early units will primarily serve internal Tesla factory use before limited external deployments.

Musk has repeatedly described Optimus as potentially “the biggest product of all time,” envisioning applications in manufacturing, domestic assistance, and other sectors. Earlier this month, the CEO also posted a photo from the Optimus production line.

How Did TSLA Retail Traders React?

On Stocktwits, retail sentiment around TSLA stock stayed within the ‘bullish’ territory over the past 24 hours, while message volume remained at ‘normal’ levels.

TSLA stock has fallen 9% year-to-date. 

Read More: MRNA Stock Eyes Worst Week In 11 Months After June Surge — What’s Ahead?

For updates and corrections, email newsroom[at]stocktwits[dot]com.