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Presented as the pickup truck of the future, the Cybertruck never took off. Tesla will reduce its production to make room for the Cybercab, its robotaxi.
Tesla has decided to abandon the Cybertruck, a futuristic-looking pickup truck whose sales never lived up to expectations, in favor of the all-new Cybercab, designed for robotaxi services and illustrating the group’s new priorities: robotics and autonomy. “Tesla will gradually reduce Cybertruck production at Gigafactory Texas around the middle of next year to make room for increased Cybercab production,” Elon Musk, CEO of the American automaker, posted on X on Friday.
The conservative entrepreneur unveiled the Cybertruck at a lavish event in December 2023 at the company’s headquarters in Austin, Texas where he was called a genius by the media (of course paid by the company itself) but the car didn’t even reached peak sales and now is being taken out of the market.
“I think it’s our best product,” he declared, “the most exceptional object on the road. The future will finally look like the future.” “It’s better than a pickup truck and better than a sports car, all rolled into one,” he continued.
Firing machine guns at doors without making a hole, pulling a construction vehicle or a rocket engine, winning a race against a Porsche 911—Elon Musk certainly put on a show. But the world’s richest man then became deeply involved in Donald Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign, spending hundreds of millions of dollars on the Republican side. Tesla’s global sales were also hampered by his involvement with the Trump administration and his support for far-right governments in Europe. Tesla was targeted by acts of vandalism, calls for boycotts, and protests.
Tesla has decided to abandon the Cybertruck, a futuristic-looking pickup truck whose sales never lived up to expectations, in favor of the all-new Cybercab , designed for robotaxi services and illustrating the group’s new priorities: robotics and autonomy. “Tesla will gradually reduce Cybertruck production at Gigafactory Texas around the middle of next year to make room for increased Cybercab production,” Elon Musk, CEO of the American automaker, posted on X on Friday.Advertisement
The conservative billionaire unveiled the Cybertruck at a lavish event in December 2023 at the company’s headquarters in Austin, Texas. “I think it’s our best product,” he declared, “the most exceptional object on the road. The future will finally look like the future.” “It’s better than a pickup truck and better than a sports car, all rolled into one,” he continued.
Firing machine guns at doors without making a hole, pulling a construction vehicle or a rocket engine, winning a race against a Porsche 911—Elon Musk certainly put on a show. But the world’s richest man then became deeply involved in Donald Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign, spending hundreds of millions of dollars on the Republican side. Tesla’s global sales were also hampered by his involvement with the Trump administration and his support for far-right governments in Europe. Tesla was targeted by acts of vandalism, calls for boycotts, and protests.
Sales have since rebounded, but the Cybertruck never achieved the expected success. In late 2023, Elon Musk anticipated a production of 250,000 units by 2025 and mentioned an order book exceeding one million at the time. The manufacturer never released production or sales figures for the pickup truck, whose angular design seemed to put some people off, as did its high price. At launch, it cost between $60,990 and $99,990, depending on the version.Advertisement
“Mediocre” demand
A recall carried out in March 2025 by the American road safety agency (NHTSA) concerned all Cybertrucks and thus gave an indication: 46,096 units, between November 13, 2023 and February 27, 2025.
SpaceX, the space company also owned by Elon Musk and which could merge with Tesla in the coming years, is a major customer. The rockets are notably towed to the launch pads by Cybertrucks.
The discontinuation “was inevitable given the high price of the Cybertruck and the mediocre demand,” Dan Ives, director of Yorkville Ives, told AFP, noting that Elon Musk was now “focused on the era of robotics and robotaxis.”
Elon Musk did not specify on Friday whether the pickup truck would be manufactured in another factory, but he responded to a tweet referring to the “end of an era”: “That’s true. But the Cybertruck fleet is going to be around for a long time.” He justified this production halt by citing the rise of the Cybercab, a vehicle designed specifically for robotaxi operation and launched in early September on the streets of Austin and, more recently, in Dallas.
Investigation opened
But on the very first day of its launch, the NHTSA opened an investigation to determine if the vehicle met federal standards. The Cybercab is a coupe-like vehicle with a gold body, lacking a steering wheel, pedals, and mirrors, and equipped with gull-wing doors. Its trunk can hold up to two checked suitcases and two carry-on suitcases. It can transport two people.
It was unveiled with great fanfare in a Hollywood studio in October 2024. At that time, Elon Musk mentioned the manufacture of “at least 2 million Cybercabs per year”, and up to four million eventually in several factories.Advertisement
The businessman praised the merits of the new vehicle in early September, calling it “simply a comfortable lounge on wheels with a great TV and fantastic sound.”
According to FSD Database, which compiles data from the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), Tesla had registered 1,244 robotaxis as of Friday. Tesla provides this service with its Model Y SUVs, equipped with autonomous driving software since June 2025, and with Cybercabs since September.
Source: Edmonds
