Model S and Model X: how Tesla's first flagships changed the car industry

The Model S and Model X are no longer built, but their influence is everywhere. Before them, most electric cars were small, slow city cars. After them, every major carmaker started planning large, fast electric models. Here is how they did it.

Model S (2012–2026)

• The breakthrough: launched in 2012, the Model S offered a range of hundreds of kilometers, a huge touchscreen and over-the-air updates at a time when that was unheard of.
• Built in-house: it was the first car Tesla designed entirely itself. The original Roadster used a Lotus chassis.
• Performance: the 'Ludicrous' versions and later the Plaid, with about 1,020 horsepower and 0–60 mph in around two seconds, made it one of the quickest production cars in the world.
• The big refresh: in 2021 it got a new interior with a horizontal screen and the controversial yoke steering wheel.

Model X (2015–2026)

• Falcon-wing doors: the rear doors open upward, a striking but complex design that caused early production problems.
• Family car: up to seven seats, a panoramic windshield and towing capacity made it a practical luxury SUV.
• Plaid too: the Model X Plaid brought the same three-motor setup to an SUV.

What they made possible

The profits and reputation from the S and X helped pay for the Model 3 and Model Y, the cars that made Tesla a volume manufacturer. The Supercharger network was originally built to make long trips in a Model S possible.

Why they ended

By 2025, the S, X and Cybertruck together were only about 3% of Tesla's deliveries. The design was more than a decade old in its basics, and Tesla preferred to use the Fremont space for Optimus.

Buying one now

Used Model S and X cars offer a lot of car for the money. Check the battery health, the hardware version for FSD and Autopilot, and the service history. Tesla has promised continued service and software updates.