Tesla just confirmed the next gen Roadster Texas factory build in a fresh interview. Lars and Franz made it clear the Roadster is heading to Texas production.
The Big Announcement
The key fact from the Ride the Lightning interview is simple: the Tesla Roadster built in Texas. They have already started planning, and visible progress at the Texas factory points to a massive new racetrack right next door. This setup screams high-performance testing for the Roadster and future Model 3 and Model Y variants.
Why Tesla Killed Model S X
The same interview delivered straight answers on why Tesla killed Model S X. The platform simply could not keep up with evolving Tesla safety standards NCAP update requirements. Euro NCAP and IIHS protocols now demand better small-overlap and offset crash performance than the original S and X structure was designed for. Band-aid fixes worked for a while, but a full redesign would have been too costly for low-volume vehicles.
Tesla Model S X discontinuation reasons also include timing. Executives noted that now is not the right moment to continue the current versions, though they left the door open with a clear "never say never."
What This Means for Owners
Current Model S and Model X owners keep their cars and support. The final delivery event already happened, so production has wrapped. If a redesigned version returns years later it will be a completely new platform.
For anyone eyeing the next gen Roadster Texas factory output, the timeline looks like late this year for more concrete updates rather than the original spring target.
Check the full discussion on the Tesla Model S X final delivery event and deeper background in why Tesla killed Model S insider insights.
Bottom Line
The Texas move signals Tesla doubling down on performance vehicles that can actually meet tomorrow's safety rules. The Roadster built in Texas will get the modern foundation the old S and X never had. Excited to see that racetrack in action once production ramps up.
