Technology
Tesla discontinues Solar Roof tiles, shifting focus to standard solar panels
The company has notified installers that it will no longer supply solar tiles after years of lagging installations and financial challenges.
The short version
- Tesla has discontinued its Solar Roof product, informing certified installers that it will exclusively supply traditional solar panels going forward.
- Internal evaluations concluded the roof tiles were not economically viable amid soaring costs and difficult installations.
- Third-party installers and prospective customers will now be limited to conventional rooftop panel offerings from Tesla's energy division.
Key facts
- Tesla notified certified third-party installers that it has ceased offering Solar Roof tiles and will supply only traditional solar panels.[Electrek]
- Tesla removed the Solar Roof option from its website navigation and redirected the product's webpage to its standard solar panels page.[Electrek]
- Wood Mackenzie estimated that Tesla installed roughly 3,000 Solar Roof systems in the United States over about seven years, peaking between 21 and 32 installations per week.[Electrek]
- Elon Musk originally introduced the Solar Roof concept in October 2016 shortly before Tesla shareholders voted to acquire SolarCity for approximately $2.6 billion.[Electrek]
- Tesla settled a class-action lawsuit for $6 million in 2023 regarding substantial Solar Roof price increases imposed on signed contracts.[Electrek]
What remains uncertain
- It is unclear how Tesla will handle long-term warranty coverage, maintenance, and replacement parts for the estimated 3,000 existing Solar Roof customers.[Electrek]