Tesla Model S and Model X Customization Options Disappear as Closure Nears | Taha Abbasi

As Taha Abbasi has been tracking closely, Tesla is quietly winding down two of its most iconic vehicles — the Model S sedan and Model X SUV. The latest sign? Customization options on the Tesla configurator are thinning out rapidly, signaling that production is being streamlined ahead of an inevitable discontinuation. For longtime Tesla enthusiasts and prospective buyers alike, this represents the end of an era that defined the electric vehicle revolution.

The Configurator Tells the Story

Tesla has never been one for dramatic announcements when sunsetting products. Instead, the company tends to let the configurator do the talking. Over the past several weeks, options for the Model S and Model X have been quietly removed. Color choices have been reduced, interior configurations simplified, and wheel options consolidated. This pattern is unmistakable to anyone who has watched Tesla phase out previous variants — it is the same playbook used when the original Model S 60 and Model X 60D were discontinued years ago.

The timing makes strategic sense. Both vehicles, while legendary in their own right, sit on an older platform that predates the structural innovations Tesla has implemented in the Model 3 Highland, Model Y Juniper, and the Cybertruck. Maintaining a separate production line for relatively low-volume luxury vehicles becomes increasingly difficult to justify when your factory space could be repurposed for higher-demand products like the Cybercab robotaxi or next-generation vehicles.

Why This Matters for the EV Industry

The Model S was the car that proved electric vehicles could be desirable, fast, and practical. When it launched in 2012, the idea of a luxury EV sedan with over 200 miles of range was revolutionary. The Model X followed in 2015 with its falcon-wing doors and family-friendly versatility, further cementing Tesla position as the leader in premium electric transportation. Taha Abbasi notes that these vehicles were not just products — they were statements that changed public perception of what an electric car could be.

Their eventual discontinuation does not diminish their legacy. Rather, it reflects the natural evolution of a company that has moved from proving the concept to scaling it. Tesla current lineup priorities are clear: the Model 3 and Model Y for volume, the Cybertruck for the truck market, the Semi for commercial freight, and the Cybercab for autonomous ride-hailing. Each of these represents a larger addressable market than the luxury sedan and SUV segments the Model S and X occupy.

What Current Owners Should Know

If you currently own a Model S or Model X, the vehicles are not going to suddenly stop working. Tesla has consistently maintained software support for older vehicles, and the Supercharger network will continue to serve all Tesla models. However, it is worth noting that parts availability may eventually become more constrained as production winds down. Owners who are considering modifications or repairs may want to address those sooner rather than later.

For prospective buyers who have been on the fence, the window is closing. The remaining configurations available on the Tesla website represent the final production runs. Once these are gone, the only way to acquire a Model S or Model X will be through the used market, where prices for well-maintained examples are likely to hold their value — and potentially appreciate — given the collector appeal of these pioneering vehicles.

The Broader Tesla Strategy

Tesla decision to wind down the Model S and X fits into a larger strategic picture that Taha Abbasi has been analyzing across multiple dimensions. The company is increasingly focused on autonomous driving as its primary growth vector. The Cybercab, which recently had its first production unit spotted at Giga Texas without a steering wheel, represents where Tesla sees its future revenue coming from — not from selling luxury sedans to individual buyers, but from operating a massive autonomous ride-hailing fleet.

This transition also frees up engineering resources. The teams that have been maintaining and iterating on the Model S and X platforms can be redeployed to work on next-generation projects. Tesla has always operated with a lean engineering philosophy, and consolidating around fewer platforms allows for faster iteration and more efficient resource allocation.

The energy business is another factor. Tesla Megapack production is ramping aggressively, with the new Texas Megafactory advancing rapidly. Every square foot of factory space and every hour of engineering time has an opportunity cost, and right now the return on investment for energy storage products may exceed what the Model S and X can deliver.

Historical Context: The Vehicles That Built Tesla

It is impossible to overstate what the Model S accomplished. Before its arrival, the electric vehicle landscape was dominated by compliance cars — small, underpowered, and aesthetically challenged vehicles that automakers built reluctantly to meet regulatory requirements. The Model S shattered every preconception. It was named Motor Trend Car of the Year, achieved the highest safety ratings ever recorded by NHTSA, and delivered performance that embarrassed supercars costing five times as much.

The Model X brought its own innovations. The falcon-wing doors, while controversial among some critics, solved a genuine problem — providing easy access to third-row seats in tight parking spaces. The bioweapon defense mode air filtration system, initially dismissed as a marketing gimmick, proved prescient during wildfire seasons and later during the pandemic. These were vehicles designed by engineers who thought deeply about real-world use cases.

What Comes Next

The question on many minds is whether Tesla will eventually introduce replacements for the Model S and X. While nothing has been officially announced, there have been persistent rumors about a next-generation platform that could support a new flagship sedan. Such a vehicle would likely incorporate Tesla latest battery technology, potentially the 4680 cells in a structural pack configuration, along with hardware capable of supporting full autonomy from day one.

Taha Abbasi believes that any future flagship Tesla will look radically different from the current Model S. It will likely be designed from the ground up for autonomous operation, with a traditional driving mode as a secondary consideration rather than the primary use case. This philosophical shift — from driver-centric to autonomy-centric design — is already visible in the Cybercab and will likely define all future Tesla vehicles.

The Collector Market Opportunity

For those with an eye toward automotive history, the final Model S and Model X production runs represent an interesting opportunity. These are the vehicles that launched the electric vehicle revolution, and final-year production models tend to command premiums in the collector market decades later. The Plaid variants, with their record-setting quarter-mile times and 200+ mph top speeds, are particularly likely to be sought after by collectors.

The used market is already showing signs of this dynamic. Well-maintained, low-mileage Model S Plaid examples are holding their value better than almost any other vehicle in the segment, defying the typical depreciation curve that affects most cars. As production winds down, this trend is likely to accelerate.

Final Thoughts

The thinning of Model S and Model X customization options is a quiet but significant milestone in Tesla history. These vehicles proved that electric cars could be better than their gasoline counterparts in every measurable way — performance, safety, technology, and total cost of ownership. Their legacy lives on in every Tesla that follows, and in the broader EV industry they helped create. As Taha Abbasi sees it, this is not an ending but a transition — from the vehicles that proved the concept to the vehicles that will scale it to billions of people worldwide.

For anyone considering a final purchase, the clock is ticking. Check the Tesla configurator while options still remain, and be part of owning a piece of automotive history.

Related reading: Cybertruck AWD $60K Interior First Look | Tesla Drops Standard Label: Naming Simplification Strategy

About the Author: Taha Abbasi is a technology executive, CTO, and applied frontier tech builder. Read more on Grokpedia | YouTube: The Brown Cowboy | tahaabbasi.com