Tesla Model X: The Falcon Wing SUV Built From 2015 to 2026

The Tesla Model X is a battery electric SUV that Tesla built from 2015 to 2026. Its falcon wing rear doors and three-row, seven-seat layout set it apart from rivals. Tesla announced the end of production in January 2026, alongside the Model S.

When did the Tesla Model X go on sale?

Tesla unveiled the prototype on February 9, 2012, at its Hawthorne design studios and took reservations before setting a price. Deliveries began on September 29, 2015, at the Fremont factory, after the target slipped from early 2014 to late 2014 and then to 2015.

The delays had several causes. Problems with the falcon wing doors and with cooling the motors while hauling trailers both held up the programme. Tesla also sued the Swiss hydraulics firm Hoerbiger over the door mechanism, citing oil leakage and overheating, and settled the case in September 2016.

Early interest was strong. Estimates put pre-orders near 30,000 by August 2015, before the first cars reached customers, and the Founders Series cars were handed over at a launch event in the Fremont factory.

The Model X was developed from the full-size sedan platform of the Model S, and the two cars shared the Fremont plant. Supplier parts shortages in the first months of 2016 slowed output further.

A falcon wing SUV that rode a long road from prototype to discontinuation in just over a decade.

How far can the Model X travel?

The Long Range version carried an EPA range of 352 miles (566 km), and the Plaid version was rated at 335 miles (539 km). Earlier cars were rated lower, and the 60D offered 200 mi (320 km) when it arrived in July 2016.

The 60D used a 75 kWh pack that was restricted by software to 60 kWh. Owners could later unlock the full capacity, which was one way Tesla handled range across its lineup. The P100D followed in August 2016 with a 100 kWh battery, Ludicrous Mode and 289 mi (465 km) of range.

Battery options across the years were 60, 75, 90, or 100 kWh. A Long Range model priced at $84,500 arrived in July 2019 with a 325-mile EPA range, which gave buyers a clear step between the base car and the performance models.

Range figures have grown with each battery revision. Tesla raised the Long Range rating in later updates, and its figures should be read as EPA estimates rather than guaranteed real-world distances in cold weather or at motorway speeds.

What are the falcon wing doors?

The falcon wing doors are double-hinged doors that lift upward, rather than swinging out from the front like gull-wing doors. Tesla says this makes getting in and out far easier. Wide-band radar helps the doors avoid nearby objects when they open or close.

The design let the leading edge of each door stay close to the body, which mattered for tight parking spaces. It also gave the car a distinctive profile that set it apart from conventional SUVs.

Early production cars suffered door and window faults. Some doors did not open or latch correctly, and some windows did not close fully. Tesla addressed these with software updates, and later firmware removed the known door issues.

Car and Driver praised the panoramic windshield but was less enthusiastic about the doors. The windscreen, in its view, was the more convincing part of the design.

How safe is the Model X?

The Model X earned five stars in every assessed NHTSA category when results were published on June 13, 2017, which made it the only SUV to do so. Euro NCAP also awarded five stars. Tesla credits the car's low centre of gravity, which comes from the battery pack.

The standard equipment includes autonomous emergency braking and side-directed ultrasound detection that steers the car away from threats. Autopilot is standard, while full self-driving is an option.

Tesla also said the Model X had a lower probability of injury than any SUV NHTSA had tested, and that only the Model S ranked ahead of it overall. Such claims come from the manufacturer, so they are best weighed alongside the independent test results.

The Model X also picked up a series of awards, including a Golden Steering Wheel in the Large SUV category in November 2016. Judging for that prize was carried out by professional drivers, technicians and journalists across six categories.

Why was the Model X recalled?

Tesla had issued 38 product safety recalls for the Model X as of April 2025. Early examples included 2,700 cars in April 2016, when third-row seats could unlatch and fold forward during collision testing, and 53,000 Model S and X cars in April 2017 over faulty parking brakes.

Later recalls covered software and hardware issues across the fleet. A January 2021 recall covered nearly 135,000 cars over rearview cameras, and a September 2022 recall involved about 1,097,000 cars because the window automatic reversal system could fail.

Many recalls were shared between models, so the Model X figure counts every vehicle that included it rather than cars unique to the model. That makes the total look larger than it would for a single-model maker.

Security also came up in public. In 2017 Keen Security Lab at Tencent reported that its researchers had gained remote control of a Model X, and most affected cars were patched by an update one month after Tesla was told about the issue.

What are the Tesla Model X specifications?

The table below covers the main figures for the Long Range, Performance and Plaid versions. Where a number applies to one version, it sits on that version's line, so the Plaid's acceleration and the standard range are not blended together.

The Model X was always an all-wheel drive car, even though Tesla first planned rear-wheel drive models. Each axle carried its own motor, which is why the performance versions show separate front and rear power figures.

How did Model X sales develop?

Model X sales began slowly, held back by production problems in the first months of deliveries. Tesla produced 507 cars in the fourth quarter of 2015, of which 206 were delivered to customers. The climb was steady rather than explosive, which reflected the production challenges of the early years.

Sales strengthened in 2016. Global sales for the year reached 25,312 Model X cars, and the car ranked among the best-selling plug-in electric models in its first full year on the market.

In 2017 global deliveries reached 46,535 units, and cumulative sales passed 100,000 in September 2018. The United States was the primary market, while retail deliveries in China began in June 2016.

Sales later slowed in some markets. Deliveries in the United Kingdom fell sharply in the early 2020s, and Tesla confirmed it would not sell right-hand drive versions for the foreseeable future.

What did buyers and critics make of the Model X?

Reviews were mixed. Car and Driver awarded the Model X five stars and noted that few rival electric SUVs existed at the time, while praising the panoramic windshield. Opinions split between enthusiasts who praised the performance and reviewers who questioned its comfort and practicality.

Consumer Reports was less impressed. It said the all-wheel-drive Model X 90D largely disappointed, citing rear doors that could pause, second-row seats that could not fold and a ride that it judged too firm for a $110,000 car.

Jeremy Clarkson reviewed a Tesla on The Grand Tour in February 2018 and described the Model X positively, calling it unlike anything else on the road. The review was notable because he had been critical of an earlier Tesla.

Awards followed as well. The American Automobile Association named the 75D its top green vehicle in 2017, with a score of 100/130.

What did the Model X software updates change?

Tesla updated the Model X's hardware and software through its life. Smart Air Suspension became standard from October 2016, a secondary processor node arrived in August 2017 and the MCU 2 computer improved the central screen in March 2018. Those changes shaped how the car drove and how owners used it.

The HW2.5 update added a secondary processor node. Tesla said it gave more computing power and additional wiring redundancy, which slightly improved reliability, and it also enabled dashcam and sentry mode features.

The MCU 2 upgrade improved the performance of the 17 inch centre console screen, which served as the main interface for most of the car's controls.

Smart Air Suspension replaced coil springs as standard equipment in October 2016, giving the car a more adjustable ride. Software updates also addressed early door and window problems that had affected the first cars.

Why did Model X production end?

The Model X was set to end alongside the Model S in early 2026. The company planned to use the factory capacity for Optimus robots instead. The decision moved manufacturing capacity away from the SUV and towards a new product.

The last batch of 100 Signature Edition cars went to invited buyers, giving loyal customers a final chance to order before the line closed. Those cars were presented as the closing chapter of the falcon wing story.

The Model X had already changed in the years before its end. Software updates, revised suspension and the Plaid version all kept it competitive, but the line-up had grown more crowded as other electric models arrived.

For owners, the end of production raises questions about parts and support over the long term. Tesla's wider service network continues to support the cars already on the road.

Owners who keep their cars will rely on software updates and service support for much of the car's later life, so the quality of that support will matter as the fleet ages.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Model X still sold new?

Tesla announced in January 2026 that the Model X and Model S would end, and that the line would be repurposed to build Optimus robots. A final run of 100 Signature Edition cars was offered by invitation only.

How much could the Model X tow?

With an optional towbar, the Model X could tow up to 5000 lb (2250 kg). In May 2018 Tesla and Qantas set a Guinness record by moving a 287,000 lb (130,000 kg) Boeing 787-9 at Melbourne Airport.

Who uses the Model X in space work?

SpaceX has used modified Model X vehicles since 2020 to carry astronauts. The modified cars include umbilicals for the astronauts and carry vanity plates for each mission.

What did the Model X cost?

The Long Range was priced at $84,500 when it arrived in July 2019, and the base 100D cost US$97,000 as of January 2019. In September 2023 the Long Range fell to US$79,990 in the United States.