Tesla Cybertruck production will wind down by the middle of 2027, CEO Elon Musk said Friday, marking an early end for the stainless-steel pickup that drew both ardent fans and sharp critics.
Musk announced on X that output of the truck will taper off at Tesla’s plant near Austin, Texas, to free up capacity for the company’s Cybercab robotaxi. The decision closes the book on a model Musk repeatedly championed as Tesla’s best product.
Auto watchers said the truck’s polarizing design and outsized profile helped cement its status in popular culture. “Few vehicles in history have generated as much attention,” said Armen Hareyan of Torque News, calling the Cybertruck a cultural symbol that was loved, mocked and hard to ignore.
The truck’s 2019 debut became infamous when a metal ball thrown at its supposedly shatterproof glass cracked two windows during a live demonstration. Musk nonetheless pushed ahead, describing his vision as a futuristic, highly functional vehicle with sports car performance and full-size truck capability.
Spencer Penn, a former Tesla executive who left before launch and now leads procurement software firm LightSource, said the truck fit Tesla’s risk-taking ethos in a competitive market where no electric pickup has broken through decisively. He initially disliked the look, then placed a reservation, but ultimately walked away when pricing landed well above early targets, with initial models selling for double or more than the sub-$40,000 Musk once teased. “Some of these bets work and some of these bets don’t,” Penn said.
The move to end Tesla Cybertruck production also underscores Tesla’s pivot toward autonomous vehicles, which Musk has cast as central to the company’s future. Musk once projected annual output of 250,000 Cybertrucks. Kelley Blue Book estimated Tesla sold 20,237 last year, roughly half the prior year’s volume, with sales through September this year down another 28 percent.
Political backlash around Musk has also weighed on the brand. His alignment with prominent right-wing figures, including U.S. President Donald Trump, alienated some former loyalists. Protesters targeted Tesla showrooms and urged investors to divest, and there were instances of vandalism against company property. Owners reported harassment, with some Cybertruck drivers facing insults on the road.
Ross Blankenship, a Cybertruck owner, said the vehicle evoked the sci-fi worlds of his childhood and he bought it for its futuristic tech, not politics. He lamented seeing it turn into a political symbol but said he would purchase another if he could, calling the wind-down “a sad moment.”
Tesla Cybertruck production and the shift to robotaxis
As Tesla reallocates resources to the Cybercab robotaxi, the company is betting that autonomous services will drive the next phase of growth. For Hawaii drivers following the EV market, the Cybertruck’s exit highlights a broader shift among automakers to software and self-driving technology, even as electric pickup demand remains uncertain.
For readers watching national politics and policy shifts tied to the auto industry, recent coverage of key results from midterm ballot measures nationwide offers additional context on how voters are shaping regulations and incentives. Tesla continues to position itself at the forefront of electric and autonomous vehicles, even as debates over environmental policy and transportation funding evolve.
More information about Tesla’s broader product lineup and strategy can be found on the company’s official Tesla website, where details on upcoming models and services are regularly updated.
