Tesla stops selling solar roofs a decade after launch

Tesla has discontinued the sale of its premium solar roof tiles, nearly a decade after the company introduced the product as a more appealing alternative to conventional solar panels. The discontinuation was first reported by Electrek last week, with Tesla's website now redirecting users to its solar panels offerings. The decision comes after initial plans to acquire SolarCity, a solar installer owned by Elon Musk's cousins, were announced in 2016.

Despite Musk's initial ambitions, Tesla had aimed to install 1,000 solar roofs per week by 2021, although industry estimates suggested actual installations were far fewer. The company's solar strategy has shifted back to traditional panels, which are manufactured at Tesla's factory in Buffalo, New York, and began delivery to residential customers this year.

Musk remains committed to solar, as evidenced by Tesla's recent filing for a $10.1 billion solar-cell factory in Texas, which would create 9,712 permanent jobs.