The Tesla Model S Is Dead. Here's Why It Mattered

Car models get canceled all of the time, even the iconic and successful ones. But for electric-vehicle fans, it's not hard to have mixed feelings about the demise of the Tesla Model S. (And, to a lesser extent, the Model X.)

Tesla CEO announced the death of both models on a fourth-quarter earnings call this week as the automaker attempts to become much more than just an automaker—the EVs' production lines will be used instead to make the Optimus robot. That's a far more unproven bet than even EVs were, but Tesla is hanging its entire future on automation and AI.

Meanwhile, on this week's Plugged-In Podcast, my co-host Tim Levin and I take a step back to reflect on the Model S' legacy. Tesla's first car was the Roadster, but that was more of a rough proof of concept than anything else. The Model S—fast, sleek, high-tech and expensive—that convinced people EVs could be desirable and not, you know, the Coda Electric. Its success propelled Tesla to greater heights, like taking EVs mainstream with the Model 3 and Model Y. 

But in recent years, it was tough to make a case for the Model S, or its gull-winged SUV sibling, the Model X. Both had become expensive and a bit irrelevant as competitors caught up, and neither were selling well. I don't think Tesla will be lost without them—but a bigger problem may be its lack of interest in making cars, period.

We also have a lot to cover from Paren's latest study on EV charger growth in America. Spoiler alert: there's a lot of good news there. And Tim reports on conversations he recently had with the CEOs of Slate Auto and Scout Motors, covering pricing and the rise of extended-range EVs, respectively. Tune in—Tim got some good tea out of both of them. 

Check out the show wherever you get podcasts (find your preferred platform here). Thanks for tuning in—we're in for an exciting year ahead, and I can't wait to cover it on the show.

Contact the author: patrick.george@insideevs.com

Past Pod Episodes

Cheap Chinese Electric Cars Are Coming To Canada. What Happens Now?

Can BMW's Quad-Motor M Sport Sedan Win Over The Biggest EV Skeptics?

The EVs We're Most Excited For In 2026 And Why

Tesla, Waymo, Slate's Affordable Truck And Beyond: The 10 Biggest EV Stories Of 2025