When Musk said at the earnings call, "The Model S and X have fulfilled their mission and deserve a dignified retirement," these slightly sentimental words hide Tesla's shrewdest strategic calculation — is discontinuing the older models simply to make room for robots, or to pave a new track for electric vehicles?

First, let’s uncover the truth behind the "veterans' curtain call": This isn’t Tesla being ruthless; the market stopped buying them long ago. In 2025, the Model S/X accounted for only 3% of Tesla's total deliveries, with annual sales of approximately 5,000 units. In contrast to the dominant 97% share of the Model 3/Y, they’re like veteran actors whose limelight has been completely stolen by new protagonists on stage. More embarrassingly, the Fremont Factory retains an annual production capacity of 100,000 units for them — a production line that has long been "underutilized" has become an "inefficient burden" in Tesla’s resource list. Moreover, the technology of these older models is outdated: they lack an 800V architecture, ultra-fast charging, and even the industry-standard upgrades to the three-electric system (battery, motor, electronic control). Besieged by electrified models from BBA and Chinese new forces, they’ve long lost their former competitiveness.

Next, let’s examine the confidence behind the "rise of robots": Tesla isn’t acting on a whim. The Fremont Factory is set to be transformed into the core base for producing 1 million Optimus units annually, with a goal of ramping up to 10,000 units per month by 2026. Currently, the third-generation Optimus can perform operations with millimeter-level precision, completing work equivalent to 4 workers in 24 hours, and its unit cost has been reduced to below $20,000 — less than one-tenth the price of traditional humanoid robots, giving it full mass production capability. More importantly, Musk regards Optimus as a "future money printer," stating that its commercial potential exceeds $10 trillion, more valuable than Tesla’s current automotive business. This isn’t just a simple "capacity reallocation"; it’s a bet on the growth engine of the next decade.

But don’t focus solely on robots — Tesla’s true intention is to switch tracks for electric vehicles. The first half of electrification is long over. In the past, the competition centered on range, luxury, and acceleration; now it’s all about AI, autonomous driving, and intelligent ecosystems. The "age" of the Model S/X isn’t just about their years in production, but their outdated technical logic: they were "replacements for luxury gasoline vehicles," while Tesla aims to build "AI-driven intelligent mobility tools." Look at the simultaneous advancement of its Cybercab autonomous taxi, which is set for mass production in 2026. Its steering wheel-less and pedal-less design is a far cry from the mindset of traditional electric vehicles. Even Tesla’s energy storage business is gaining momentum — the Megapack energy storage system, linked with Optimus, is forming an "energy + robot" closed loop. This isn’t abandoning electric vehicles; it’s upgrading the electric vehicle business from "hardware competition" to a new battlefield of "intelligent ecosystems."

What can Chinese automakers learn from this? Three words: Don’t cling to the past; dare to pivot. First, don’t rely on "classic models" to live off past successes. Just like the Model S/X — once benchmarks that failed to keep up with demand and were discarded — Chinese automakers’ "blockbuster models" will eventually be eliminated by the market if they don’t iterate. Second, learn the ingenuity of "technological crossover." Tesla has applied automotive thermal management and chassis technology to Optimus, and reused FSD algorithms for robot perception. Chinese automakers’ experience in three-electric systems and intelligent manufacturing can also become valuable chips in the intelligent track. Finally, recognize the "direction of the second half." Stop crowding into parameter competitions and focus on AI, autonomous driving, and scenario-based experiences — otherwise, you’ll only get trapped in "involution" on the old track.

In the end, the answer to Tesla’s discontinuation of older models is clear: it’s not an either/or choice between the "rise of robots" and "electric vehicles switching tracks." Instead, the layout of the former is stepping on the gas for the latter to enter the new track. Through the "dignified retirement" of its older models, Tesla is telling the industry: the era of new energy vehicles is no longer about "building good cars," but about "building the right cars for the future."