Tesla is reportedly discontinuing its solar roof tiles
What's the story
Tesla is reportedly discontinuing its Solar Roof tiles, nearly a decade after their launch. The company has informed its network of certified third-party installers that it will no longer supply these tiles and will only offer traditional solar panels in the future. The news was first reported by Electrek, citing two unnamed sources familiar with the matter.
Website updates
Changes on Tesla's website support report of Solar Roof discontinuation
The changes on Tesla's website further corroborate the report of its Solar Roof discontinuation.
The company's former Solar Roof page now redirects to its solar panels page.
Additionally, Solar Roof has been removed from the Energy navigation menu and support page of the site.
These updates suggest a shift in Tesla's focus away from this product line.
Product history
Elon Musk 1st unveiled Solar Roof in 2016
Tesla CEO Elon Musk first unveiled the Solar Roof in 2016, envisioning a line of solar-powered tiles that could generate electricity while also serving as a home's roof.
However, years later, litigation over the deal revealed that the Solar Roof tiles showcased at the event were prototypes and not operational.
The product also faced issues with complicated and expensive installation costs, among other challenges.
Legal issues
Class-action lawsuit over price increases
The high installation prices and price increases also led to a class-action lawsuit from customers who claimed Tesla had drastically increased the cost of their Solar Roof projects after contracts were signed.
In one instance cited in the lawsuit, an installation initially priced at some $72,000 jumped to around $146,000. Tesla settled for $6 million in 2023.
Installation figures
Just 3,000 roofs installed across US since launch
Tesla had hoped to manufacture and install some 1,000 roofs by 2020.
However, a 2023 report from energy research firm Wood Mackenzie revealed that only about 3,000 Solar Roof systems had been installed across the US since the product's launch in 2016.
In 2022 alone, Tesla averaged just 21 installations per week.