Tesla has been seen working on what looks to be a minor redesign for the Model S and Model X, two declining car programs.
Model S and Model X have been Tesla’s flagship vehicles for years.
Tesla set an annual sales goal of 100,000 Model S/X not too long ago. Tesla no longer even reports sales of the Model S/X, which were predicted to be less than 50,000 units worldwide in 2024.
Model S, Model X, Cybertruck, and Tesla Semi are among the 12,881 vehicles delivered by Tesla in the “other models” category in Q1 2025.
Tesla said in February that it would be releasing an updated Model S and Model X later this year.
Prototypes are beginning to appear a few months later.
To put it mildly, the upgrades are really minor. The insertion of a camera to the front bumper is the most significant modification.
A front bumper camera is a much-needed addition to Tesla’s camera array, according to numerous industry observers. Tesla’s current camera array has a few blind spots, and some people are especially worried about how well it can identify potholes and other minor roadblocks.
A front bumper camera will help with that.
The rear diffuser and front end have also been somewhat updated. A Model S Plaid prototype with little camouflage on the front and rear bumpers was also seen last week at the Nurburgring racetrack. This would also suggest minor changes to the front and rear ends.
This is as gentle an update as they come in terms of design. Tesla is referring to the addition of RGB lighting strips to the interior of its cars as an update.
It is hoped that there is more going on underneath.
It’s possible that Tesla is updating the Model S and Model X’s powertrain. This is a non-event, so I hope they are.
This would essentially suggest that Tesla is abandoning these car initiatives. Sales and manufacturing have dramatically decreased, and rather than attempting to revive the programs, Tesla may be choosing not to make major updates in order to avoid overinvesting in now-low volume initiatives.