Tesla is officially starting the countdown for its two most iconic vehicles. In a first for the company, a hard deadline has been set for new orders of the Model S and Model X in South Korea, signaling the beginning of the end for the flagship duo that defined the modern electric car era.
According to a report from Drive Tesla Canada, orders in the region will only be accepted until March 31, 2026. This move is the first clear indication of how Tesla plans to wind down sales globally before production officially ends at the Fremont factory sometime in the next quarter.
An Honorable Discharge for the Flagships
The decision to discontinue the Model S and Model X was first shared by Tesla CEO Elon Musk during the company’s Q4 2025 earnings call. Musk described the move as an "honorable discharge," acknowledging that while these cars proved EVs could be desirable, they no longer fit Tesla's high-volume, autonomy-focused future.
The numbers tell the story. In late 2025, the combined sales for the Model S, Model X, Cybertruck, and Semi made up just 2.8% of Tesla's total volume. With sales dwindling and the vehicles recently losing their dedicated GPUs and internal storage capacity, the writing has been on the wall. Tesla needs the floor space at Fremont to pivot toward its next big project: the Optimus humanoid robot.
The Model Y L: A New Flagship?
As the Model S and Model X exit the stage, a new contender is arriving to fill the gap for families. The Model Y L — a longer-wheelbase, three-row, six-seat version of the best-selling SUV — has just been certified for sale in South Korea.
This variant was previously a China-exclusive, but Tesla has been rapidly launching it in international markets this month, including Australia, New Zealand, and Thailand. With its more spacious 2-2-2 seating layout and comfort-oriented suspension, the Model Y L is essentially the spiritual successor to the Model X for those who need a premium family-hauler without the "Falcon Wing" complexity.
What’s Next for Other Regions?
The South Korea deadline is likely a result of shipping logistics, as Tesla needs to fulfill final orders before the Fremont lines stop moving at the end of Q2. It provides a likely template for what we will see across North America and Europe very soon. If you’ve been on the fence about owning a piece of Tesla history, your window is rapidly closing.
Tesla’s pivot is a bold bet on a future of affordable autonomy and robotics. While it's sad to see the cars that started it all go away, the company is clearly focused on the "next big thing." Expect similar "Final Call" announcements to pop up in the Tesla app and order configurator for other regions over the next few weeks.
