Tesla, once the leader in electric vehicles, has announced plans to discontinue its iconic Models S and X due to a shift in focus towards developing humanoid robots. The decision is seen as a significant departure from Tesla's traditional business model of building and selling cars.
The company's financial results for 2025 revealed profits that were almost halved, with revenues declining year-over-year for the first time in its history. Analysts point to several reasons behind this decline, including CEO Elon Musk's increasingly polarizing views on politics and his promotion of AI-generated content that has alienated some potential customers.
Tesla's attention has shifted from building cars to developing autonomous driving technology, which Musk claims will be a lucrative business. However, the company's efforts in this area have been met with skepticism, particularly after its failed attempts to launch robotaxis in Austin, Texas.
The focus on humanoid robots, known as Optimus, is seen as a major departure from Tesla's traditional product lineup. The robots are expected to sell in the billions and could add up to $20 trillion to Tesla's market capitalization at some point in the future. Despite Musk's claims that the robots will be a game-changer, analysts question whether they can overcome the development challenges faced by previous models.
The discontinuation of Models S and X has significant implications for the company's future direction. The vehicles, once revolutionary for their electric range and performance, have become less competitive in an increasingly crowded market. Tesla's struggles to adapt to changing consumer preferences have led to a decline in sales, with production and deliveries slipping significantly over the past few years.
As Tesla moves forward, it remains to be seen whether the company can successfully transition from building cars to developing humanoid robots. Analysts will be watching closely as the company seeks to prove its vision for the future of transportation and the role that robots will play in shaping the automotive industry.
The company's financial results for 2025 revealed profits that were almost halved, with revenues declining year-over-year for the first time in its history. Analysts point to several reasons behind this decline, including CEO Elon Musk's increasingly polarizing views on politics and his promotion of AI-generated content that has alienated some potential customers.
Tesla's attention has shifted from building cars to developing autonomous driving technology, which Musk claims will be a lucrative business. However, the company's efforts in this area have been met with skepticism, particularly after its failed attempts to launch robotaxis in Austin, Texas.
The focus on humanoid robots, known as Optimus, is seen as a major departure from Tesla's traditional product lineup. The robots are expected to sell in the billions and could add up to $20 trillion to Tesla's market capitalization at some point in the future. Despite Musk's claims that the robots will be a game-changer, analysts question whether they can overcome the development challenges faced by previous models.
The discontinuation of Models S and X has significant implications for the company's future direction. The vehicles, once revolutionary for their electric range and performance, have become less competitive in an increasingly crowded market. Tesla's struggles to adapt to changing consumer preferences have led to a decline in sales, with production and deliveries slipping significantly over the past few years.
As Tesla moves forward, it remains to be seen whether the company can successfully transition from building cars to developing humanoid robots. Analysts will be watching closely as the company seeks to prove its vision for the future of transportation and the role that robots will play in shaping the automotive industry.