- Designer Jesse Richards posted an AI-generated video of a “Tesla Model W” SUV on X, racking up hundreds of thousands of views in hours.
- X’s Community Notes flagged the post: the Tesla Model W does not exist and was never announced by Tesla.
- The viral moment comes as Tesla is discontinuing the Model S and Model X by Q2 2026, leaving a gap at the top of its lineup.
- The reaction reveals real demand for a Tesla full-size SUV — a vehicle Elon Musk has hinted at but never confirmed.
One AI Video, Millions of Eyeballs
The buzz actually started a day earlier. On March 25, Garcia Capital posted an AI-generated concept of a Tesla Cyber SUV that caught fire on X, racking up massive engagement and planting the seed.
Tesla Cyber SUV concept
— Garcia Capital (@GarciaCap) March 25, 2026
Then came Lamar MK, whose post laid out the bull case: a seven-seater Cyber SUV with three full rows, real legroom, built on the Cybertruck platform. “Tesla would have to build an entire new factory just to keep up with demand,” he wrote.
A 7 seater Cyber SUV would break the internet. Three full rows. Real legroom. Real headroom. No compromises.
— Lamar MK (@LamarMK) March 25, 2026
By March 26, Jesse Richards took it further with a polished AI-generated video titled “Introducing Tesla model W.” It showed a sleek, full-size electric SUV with Tesla’s design language — minimalist lines, a panoramic roof, and a spacious three-row interior. It looked real enough to fool thousands of people scrolling their feeds.
Introducing Tesla model W pic.twitter.com/w0HD0Qko4j
— Jesse Richards (@iamjesserichard) March 26, 2026
X’s Community Notes quickly stepped in, clarifying that “the Tesla Model W does not exist and is not a product announced by Tesla” and that the video was made using generative AI. Richards himself confirmed it in a follow-up post. But by then, the post had already gone massively viral — and the reactions told a bigger story than the video itself.
Follow-up on the Tesla Model W concept
— Jesse Richards (@iamjesserichard) March 26, 2026
Tesla Model W concept render
— Hunter Lott (@Hunter_Lott_) March 25, 2026
The SUV-Shaped Hole in Tesla’s Lineup
The enthusiasm wasn’t random. Tesla is actively sunsetting the Model S and Model X, with production ending by mid-2026. The Fremont factory lines will be converted to manufacture Optimus humanoid robots. That leaves the Model 3, Model Y, Cybertruck, and the perpetually delayed Roadster as Tesla’s entire vehicle lineup — with no full-size SUV in sight.
Tesla actually needs to make this. The Model X is dead, the Cybertruck is polarizing. A normal SUV would sell like crazy.
— ElonMuskAOC (@ElonMuskAOC) March 26, 2026
The Tesla Model W concept is everything the Model X should have been.
— tyler (@tylerokc) March 27, 2026
If Tesla made this I’d trade in my Model Y tomorrow.
— NAASERUS (@NAASERUS) March 27, 2026
Tesla teased a Cyber SUV concept in its Master Plan Part IV video last year, showing clay models of Cybertruck-inspired larger vehicles. But nothing has been confirmed, and Musk has given no timeline. The Model W is pure fiction — but the fact that an AI render can generate this much excitement suggests Tesla is leaving serious money on the table. The SUV market is the most profitable segment in American automotive. Every major EV competitor — from Rivian to Lucid — is fighting for it. Tesla, for now, is sitting it out.
