Tesla to end Cybertruck production by mid-2027, freeing factory space for Cybercab robotaxis
Elon Musk announced Friday that Tesla will wind down its stainless-steel pickup at Gigafactory Texas — the only plant equipped to build it — after sales collapsed far below his own projections.
Tesla will stop building the Cybertruck by mid-2027, CEO Elon Musk announced Friday on X, ending a vehicle that arrived with some of the loudest promises in recent automotive history and leaves with some of the weakest sales numbers to match.
Musk said on X that Tesla plans to wind down Cybertruck production at Gigafactory Texas to make room for increased Cybercab production.
Gigafactory Texas in Austin is the only Tesla facility known to manufacture the Cybertruck and the only one equipped to produce its specialized stainless-steel body components, according to The Verge and CBS News. Tesla has not said whether production will move elsewhere, and multiple outlets describe that as unlikely. Tesla's stock rose 4.7% on Friday following the announcement, according to CBS News.
The numbers behind the decision are stark. Musk once predicted Tesla would sell 250,000 Cybertrucks annually. Instead, analyst estimates place total deliveries since the truck's late-2023 launch at roughly 70,000, according to The Verge. Kelley Blue Book figures cited by Fox News and CBS News show U.S. sales of 38,965 in 2024, falling 48% to 20,237 in 2025, and dropping a further 28% to 11,586 in the first nine months of 2026.
Price played a significant role. When Tesla unveiled the Cybertruck in November 2019, Musk promised a starting price below $40,000 and a range of up to 500 miles. The truck that actually reached customers in late 2023 started at around $60,000 and fell well short of that range figure, according to TechCrunch. By November 5, 2026 — one day before Musk's wind-down announcement — Tesla raised prices again, bringing the Dual-Motor AWD version to $82,490 and the Premium AWD to $92,490, according to Fox News, which also noted Tesla paused new orders for the Dual-Motor model.
The truck's troubles extended beyond pricing. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has recorded 11 Cybertruck recalls since deliveries began, according to Fox News. Among the most serious: a April 2024 recall of 3,878 vehicles over an accelerator pedal pad that could become trapped and hold the accelerator down; a March 2025 recall of 46,096 vehicles over stainless-steel exterior trim that could detach at speed; and an April 2026 recall of 173 trucks over wheel studs that could separate from the hub. CBS News also cited recalls involving the rearview camera and pedals.
The Cybertruck also became a cultural flashpoint. Its polarizing angular design is not road-legal in many parts of the world, according to The Verge. After Musk became a prominent financial backer of Donald Trump and then led the so-called Department of Government Efficiency, the instantly recognizable truck became a target for protesters, with some people vandalizing Cybertrucks at Tesla dealerships, according to TechCrunch and CBS News.
The writing was on the wall for the Cybertruck given the vehicle's high price and subpar demand. Musk is focused on robotics and the robotaxi era, which frees up production with the Cybertruck ramp now winding down.— Dan Ives, Senior Managing Director, Yorkville Ives & Co
The Cybercab — a two-seat vehicle with no steering wheel or pedals — is the vehicle taking the Cybertruck's factory space. Tesla unveiled it in 2024, began production at the Texas plant in April, and launched service in Austin in September, according to CBS News. TechCrunch reports the company plans to expand Cybercab operations to Dallas later this month, and also runs robotaxi versions of its Model Y in Austin, Houston, Dallas, and three Florida cities.
The Cybertruck is the third Tesla product discontinued to fuel the company's AI and robotics ambitions. Earlier this year, Tesla ended production of the Model S sedan and Model X SUV to convert that factory space for Optimus humanoid robots, according to TechCrunch.
What the wind-down means for existing Cybertruck owners — including parts availability and long-term service — remains an open question that Tesla has not publicly addressed. Fox News said it reached out to Tesla for clarification and did not receive a response before publication.
Why it matters — The Cybertruck's end marks a concrete turning point in Tesla's identity — from automaker to AI and robotics company — with real consequences for current owners, the broader EV market, and the credibility of big-promise product launches.
⚠ Not yet confirmed
- Musk noted that the Cybertruck order backlog exceeds remaining production capacity before the line closes, and Tesla plans to add an extra shift to fulfill those orders.
- Wall Street analyst Dan Ives expects Tesla to be acquired by SpaceX next year, which would give Tesla access to more compute and capital.
- Musk quote presented as verbatim (paraphrased instead)
- backlog exceeding build capacity before June/July 2027 shutdown and extra production shift (unsupported by provided sources)
Sources differ on Whether Cybertruck production will move to another facility or be fully discontinued: Tesla has not confirmed a move elsewhere; doing so would be arduous given specialized equipment requirements (theverge.com) vs It is unclear if production will continue at other factories, though it appears unlikely (cbsnews.com) vs Tesla has not confirmed whether it will move Cybertruck manufacturing elsewhere or discontinue the vehicle entirely (foxnews.com)
Reported by thehill.com, theverge.com, foxnews.com, cbsnews.com, reuters.com, techcrunch.com, eletric-vehicles.com
