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RIP to the world’s ugliest car

Who'd'a thunk a giant steel box could make such a flop? Us, that's who - and probably you, too

RIP to the world’s ugliest car

The Cybertruck, Elon Musk's ambitious stainless-steel creation, is set to wind down production at Tesla's Texas factory by mid-2027, marking a significant disappointment for the tech mogul. Despite facing years of delays and initial fanfare, the futuristic vehicle has struggled to gain traction in the market, joining the ranks of other automotive duds like the Edsel and DeLorean.

First hitting the production line in mid-2023, the Cybertruck was soon put on sale later that year, but problems began almost immediately. Within months, recall notices started piling up due to trim pieces falling off, internal component failures, and malfunctioning cameras. As of April 2026, the vehicle had accumulated 11 recalls, with the most recent issue involving brake rotors that could potentially crack and cause wheel studs to separate from their hubs.

Musk had invested heavily in the Cybertruck, describing it as a "great product" that would generate significant positive cash flow for Tesla. He had even projected that Tesla intended to ramp up production to 250,000 vehicles per year by 2025 to meet over one million reservations. However, the reality has been far from Musk's optimistic projections. Tesla has been unable to move unsold Cybertrucks despite price reductions, with only around 70,000 units sold in the past three years, indicating limited market appeal.

The Cybertruck's failure is a massive blow for Musk and Tesla, as it never sold well, never became a boat, and is unlikely to be remembered fondly in automotive history.

Written by urgent.news from The Register Science's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.

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