Tesla appears to have discontinued its Solar Roof product nearly a decade after introducing the integrated solar tiles. Public references to Solar Roof have been removed from Tesla’s website, while the product URL and related support pages now redirect to the company’s general solar page.
Electrek first reported the disappearance. Two solar installers told TechCrunch they could still offer Solar Roof installations in some cases, although availability depended on project timing, suggesting remaining inventory may still be available.
Solar Roof Never Reached Tesla’s Installation Target
Tesla introduced Solar Roof in 2016 as an alternative to conventional rooftop solar panels, using photovoltaic tiles designed to resemble premium roofing materials.
The company later set a goal of installing 1,000 Solar Roof systems per week. By 2022, however, installations were estimated at only about 20 to 40 per week.
Tesla spent years revising the product and installation process, including launching a third-generation version in 2019. Even with those changes, Solar Roof remained considerably more expensive than standard solar panels.
Some customers reported receiving installation quotes of about $200,000. Tesla often compared the price with the combined cost of replacing a roof and installing solar panels, but the system still carried a substantial premium.
Unique Hardware Made Costs Harder to Reduce
Traditional solar panels have become cheaper partly because manufacturers produce standardized cells and panels at enormous scale. Solar Roof used custom tiles and required Tesla to develop specialized manufacturing equipment.
When sales remained below expectations, those production costs had to be spread across fewer installations.
Owners also reported technical problems, including warped non-solar tiles, damaged roof underlayment, and systems generating less electricity than expected.
Heat may have contributed to some performance issues. Solar cells generally lose voltage as temperatures rise, while conventional panels leave a larger air gap between the panel and roof to provide cooling.
Tesla’s Solar Roof also included a gap, but it was smaller than that used by traditional solar installations. The design may therefore have exposed the cells to higher operating temperatures.
Other Companies Still Sell Integrated Solar Roofs
Tesla is now directing customers toward its conventional solar panels, but integrated solar roofing remains available from other manufacturers.
Companies including GAF Energy and Merlin Solar continue developing products that combine roofing materials with solar generation.
Tesla has not published a formal announcement explaining why Solar Roof was removed or whether existing installations will continue receiving support.
Featured image credits: Wikimedia Commons
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