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Tesla will halt production of its Cybertruck following low sales and multiple recalls on a product that Elon Musk has described as “a futuristic battle tank” designed to be the “toughest” pickup truck on the market.
In a post on
Lead Product Engineer Wes Morrill posted on social media: “Cybertruck was an incredible platform for technology development and endures thanks to Cybercab. »
The electric vehicle maker also ended production of its high-end Tesla S and X models this year, as Elon Musk shifts the group’s focus and investments toward robotics and artificial intelligence.
Despite Tesla’s ambitions when it was unveiled in 2019 and launched in 2023, the Cybertruck became one of the biggest product failures for Musk and faced several recalls and safety issues.
Musk initially said Tesla would aim to produce between 250,000 and 500,000 Cybertrucks per year.
Cox Automotive estimates that Tesla sold 11,586 Cybertrucks from January to September, down 28% from the previous year and representing a 1.6% share of the U.S. electric vehicle market. Analysts expected 22,000 Cybertrucks to be sold this year.
Amid sluggish consumer demand, Musk’s rocket company SpaceX has been one of the biggest buyers of Tesla’s Cybertrucks. The two companies are considering a mega-merger, which Musk called a “good idea.”
Despite the disappearance of the Cybertruck, Tesla is not completely withdrawing from the truck market. The group began mass production of its highly anticipated electric semi-trailer in April, aiming to accelerate the shift away from diesel trucks amid rising fuel prices caused by conflict in the Middle East.
Musk said the group would focus on sales of AI-powered “Optimus” humanoid robots, autonomous Golden Cybercabs and semi-trucks as its traditional electric vehicle business is under pressure from the rise of Chinese rivals.
During its latest results, Tesla said it would aim to deliver Cybercabs to its customers by the end of 2026.
Shares of Texas-based Tesla have fallen 15% since the Republican Party suffered heavy losses in the U.S. midterm elections, partly reflecting voter anxiety over the rise of AI and big tech.
Although Musk spent more than $200 million supporting Republican candidates for Senate and governor, Texas elected Democrats to both positions for the first time in decades.
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