Tesla will wind down Cybertruck production around the middle of 2027 as Elon Musk shifts its Texas factory toward the Cybercab robotaxi.
The big picture: CEO Elon Musk announced Friday that Cybertruck production will wind down around the middle of 2027 at Tesla's factory outside Austin. He said the change will make room for increased Cybercab production.
- The stainless-steel pickup debuted in 2019 with a demonstration meant to show unbreakable glass. A metal ball shattered two windows instead, setting the tone for a vehicle that became both a technical showcase and a cultural flashpoint.
By the numbers: Musk once forecast production of 250,000 Cybertrucks a year. Kelley Blue Book estimated that Tesla sold 20,237 last year, about half the prior year's total, and sales through September fell another 28%.
- Musk originally promised a starting price below $40,000, while the first trucks sold for at least twice that amount.
What they're saying: Former Tesla executive Spencer Penn said the vehicle entered a market where electric trucks had failed to capture broad demand. He called the Cybertruck one of the company's adventurous bets and said, "Some of these bets work and some of these bets don't."
Between the lines: Ending the model is bigger than a weak product cycle. It puts more factory space behind Musk's wager that autonomous vehicles, rather than distinctive consumer trucks, will drive Tesla's next phase.
What's next: Production is scheduled to continue into 2027 while Tesla increases Cybercab output. Musk did not describe a replacement Cybertruck or another plant that would keep the model alive.
Why it matters: Tesla is retiring one of the world's most recognizable vehicles after sales missed its creator's forecast by roughly 92%, a costly signal about where the company now sees demand.
