Tesla to End Cybertruck Production and Focus on Cybercab
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Tesla is planning to end production of its Cybertruck at its Texas factory around the middle of next year. Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk announced the change in a post on social media.
The angular electric pickup truck was produced for less than four years. Musk stated the decision is intended to clear space for building the Cybercab, an autonomous robotaxi. Wes Morrill, the lead engineer for the Cybertruck, posted online that the truck served as a great technology development platform and lives on through the Cybercab. Tesla did not respond to requests for comment and clarification on whether the vehicle will be permanently discontinued.
The vehicle struggled with low sales and widespread design issues after its 2019 launch. Musk originally claimed that demand was very high with more than a million reservations, but total sales reached fewer than 50,000 units by March of last year. Market research data cited by EVWire showed that Tesla sold 11,586 Cybertrucks in the United States during the first three quarters of the year, marking a 28 percent drop compared to the same period the previous year. Musk's announcement about winding down production arrived about 80 minutes after Tesla raised prices and paused new orders for the entry-level all-wheel-drive model.
Before reaching customers, a leaked January 2022 internal report showed the early test version struggled with basic design flaws, including problems with its suspension, body sealing, noise levels, handling, and braking. During its public unveiling in November 2019, metal balls thrown by Musk to demonstrate the strength of the unbreakable windows smashed them twice.
The truck faced numerous safety recalls after its release. In April 2024, a recall was issued because an accelerator pedal pad could come loose and get trapped by interior trim, risking full-speed acceleration. In March of last year, a recall affected nearly all produced units because a stainless steel trim panel could detach while driving due to an improper adhesive. Another recall involved the rear-wheel-drive model because incorrect grease could cause wheels to separate, and faulty brake rotor stud holes could crack and cause studs to separate from the wheel hub. Karl Brauer, an executive analyst at iSeeCars, calculated that the vehicle's first six recalls made it worse than 91 percent of all other 2024 vehicles.
Despite these mechanical troubles and public ridicule, a small group of owners remained fiercely loyal to the vehicle, though some reported facing insults and taunts. Musk even tried to pitch the pickup to President Donald Trump by setting up an impromptu showroom on the White House lawn, but the President ultimately opted for a fast Model S Plaid instead.
Musk maintains that the truck is being canceled to prioritize the Cybercab rather than because of its unpopularity and unreliability. The autonomous vehicle has experienced a slow start, operating in Austin with a fleet numbering in the hundreds. Musk confirmed that the first cab came off the production line in February and wants to ramp up output significantly.
Summary
Tesla's decision to stop making the Cybertruck closes the chapter on one of the most unconventional and troubled vehicles in modern automotive history. The abrupt shift highlights how production priorities are moving toward autonomous robotaxis despite early production hurdles.