Tesla’s Musk pulls plug on Cybertruck for robotaxi push after years of poor sales

Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced on Friday that the company would wind down Cybertruck production at its Texas gigafactory around mid-2027, as sales of the futuristic model have been persistently weak. Musk stated that the decision would enable Tesla to focus on increasing the output of its newly launched Cybercab model, which is central to the company's robotaxi ambitions.

The Cybertruck's heavy, angular design and weak sales in just a few markets have led to the model's decline in popularity. The Austin plant is the only known Tesla facility equipped to manufacture the Cybertruck's specialized components, though it is unclear whether the production will be moved to another facility or phased out entirely.

Despite initial claims of selling 250,000 units annually, Tesla only managed to sell 20,237 Cybertrucks in the US last year, a 48% decrease from 38,965 units sold in 2024. The Cybertruck's controversial design, which sparked mockery and safety concerns, has limited its prospects in key markets like Europe.