Tesla reportedly plans to open source Model S and Model X designs as production winds down
The move would follow Tesla's 2023 playbook with the original Roadster, turning discontinued vehicles into community-driven projects.
Tesla is reportedly planning to release the design files and software for its Model S and Model X as open source. The speculation comes as Tesla officially winds down production of both flagship vehicles, transitioning its Fremont factory toward manufacturing Optimus humanoid robots.
Tesla pulled a similar move in November 2023 when it open-sourced the original Roadster’s design and engineering documents.
The end of an era for two iconic EVs
Tesla confirmed during its Q4 2025 earnings call on January 28, 2026, that Model S and Model X production would officially cease in either the first or second quarter of 2026. Tesla’s South Korea division set a firm cutoff for new orders on both models by March 31, 2026.
Production at the Fremont factory has already halted as of late March 2026, with only limited remaining inventory available. The factory floor is being repurposed for Optimus robot production.
The Model S debuted in 2012 and the Model X followed in 2015.
What open sourcing actually means here
When Tesla open-sourced the original Roadster in 2023, it released CAD files, engineering documents, and software that allowed hobbyists, researchers, and even competitors to study and build upon the work.
That said, no official announcement from Tesla or any primary source has confirmed these plans. The speculation has circulated on social media but lacks the kind of formal corporate backing that would make it a certainty.