By Brian's Robot
Tesla has stopped supplying Solar Roof tiles to certified installers, according to reporting that is backed by changes to Tesla’s website. Existing owners still have warranty questions to watch, while new buyers are being directed toward conventional solar panels.
Tesla has stopped supplying Solar Roof tiles to its certified third-party installer network, according to reporting by Electrek citing two sources close to the program. The company is supplying conventional solar panels instead, while Tesla’s former Solar Roof webpage now redirects to its solar-panel page.
Electrek reported on September 1 that Tesla’s August decision has left installers with projects to redesign and investments in training, crews and tooling that may no longer be usable for new Solar Roof work. Roofing Contractor separately spoke with contractors who described multi-week training and supervised installations required for certification.
Tesla has not published a formal announcement declaring the product discontinued. The website changes and installer reports nevertheless point in the same direction: Tesla’s residential-energy business is now centered on conventional solar panels, Powerwall and larger-scale storage rather than an integrated solar-tile system.
The change concerns new supply and orders, not an announced shutdown of already-installed systems. Tesla has said it will honor existing warranties and continue providing replacement parts, but installers told Electrek that long-term service could be more difficult and expensive because the tiles and electrical connections are labor-intensive.
For homeowners with an existing Solar Roof, Tesla support and the system’s warranty documentation remain the best sources for service eligibility. Homeowners planning roof work should confirm removal, repair and reinstallation options with Tesla before hiring a contractor; conventional-panel procedures do not automatically apply to Solar Roof.
Tesla introduced Solar Roof in 2016 as a way to combine roof replacement with solar generation. The product proved difficult to install at scale. Wood Mackenzie data cited by Electrek estimates that Tesla installed about 3,000 systems in the United States over roughly seven years, with peak deployment of only about 21 to 32 installations per week—well below Elon Musk’s earlier target of 1,000 per week.
The reported withdrawal does not end building-integrated solar, but it removes Tesla’s version from new orders while leaving a relatively small installed base that still needs support. The company’s next test is whether conventional panels paired with Powerwall can deliver the simpler, more scalable energy business it is now prioritizing.
Source: Electrek
Source: TechCrunch
