Tesla is set to wind down production of its polarizing Cybertruck at its Texas facility next year, according to Elon Musk. While the CEO did not confirm a total cessation of the vehicle or a shift to an alternative manufacturing site, he stated the transition is intended to “make room” for the assembly of the company’s autonomous Cybercabs. But did say the decision was to “make room” for building more of its self-driving Cybercab cars, he did not spell out whether it plans to stop making them entirely or shift production elsewhere. The Cybertruck attracted diehard fans, but was beset by delays before being launched in 2023 and has had disappointing sales numbers since, with its distinctive angular looks. But there have always been big questions about whether consumers shared that view and whether the Cybertruck could cut through and earn a spot in the US’ lucrative truck market. Joking about its appearance and labelling it ” ugly as sin, external “, but critics were far less kind.
The shift appears to mark a definitive end for the truck project. Wes Morrill, the project’s lead engineer, confirmed the move on X, describing the Cybertruck as an “incredible technology development platform” that will ultimately live on through the development of the Cybercab.
First unveiled in 2019, the Cybertruck faced significant hurdles from its initial public demonstration, where its purportedly unbreakable glass shattered on stage. Only for it to shatter during a live demonstration, it was not helped by inauspicious introduction to the public in 2019 when Musk attempted to show off the Cybertruck’s apparently unbreakable glass.
Despite these early setbacks, the vehicle garnered 146,000 pre-orders while still in development and finally hit the market in 2023.
It quickly divided opinion with its stainless-steel, retro-futuristic aesthetic, drawing comparisons to Blade Runner while simultaneously drawing criticism for being “ugly as sin.”
Market performance fell short of Musk’s initial projections, which had anticipated annual sales of 250,000 units. After reaching 38,965 sales in 2024, numbers dipped to 20,237 in 2025 according to Kelley Blue Book data. Compounding these struggles were numerous vehicle recalls, including one in 2025 that impacted over 46,000 units due to concerns over trim components detaching.
The truck also faced pricing pressure. Musk originally aimed for an accessible price point for consumers, yet the lineup eventually featured models like the “Cyberbeast,” which reached a cost of $102,000 in 2026. This was a notable increase from the $61,000 launch price for fully-equipped models.
Despite the production wind-down, the vehicle has maintained a dedicated fan base. One user on X described it as the “best vehicle Tesla has ever made,” to which Musk replied “true,” while noting that the existing fleet will remain on the road for the foreseeable future. External with the word “true”, adding: “But the Cybertruck fleet will be around for a long time, musk responded to the user.
Musk, who frequently championed the truck as his personal passion project, previously lauded it as the company’s best product to date. Investors reacted positively to the update regarding the production shift, with Tesla’s stock rising 4.7% on Friday following the announcement.
