Tesla plans to wind down production of its Cybertruck at its Gigafactory in Texas around mid-2027, as the electric vehicle manufacturer shifts its focus towards autonomous transportation following the model’s struggle to gain widespread market acceptance.
Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk announced the decision in a post on X on Friday, saying the move would create room for increased production of the company’s Cybercab, a driverless vehicle central to its robotaxi ambitions.
The announcement has raised questions about the future of the Cybertruck, although Musk did not clarify whether production would be transferred to another facility or discontinued entirely.
Tesla’s Austin factory remains the only known manufacturing site equipped to produce the specialised components required for the electric pickup.
Responding to a user on X, Musk described the Cybertruck as the best vehicle Tesla had produced and referred to the production wind-down as “the end of an era”.
He also indicated that the existing Cybertruck fleet would remain in service for years, suggesting that the production decision would not immediately affect current owners.
Tesla did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment sent outside regular business hours.
Unveiled in 2019 and launched commercially in 2023, the Cybertruck was initially promoted by Musk as a futuristic competitor to established pickup models from manufacturers such as Ford and General Motors.
However, the vehicle has struggled to achieve the mass-market appeal the company anticipated, with its unconventional stainless-steel exterior and sharply angled design attracting divided reactions from consumers.
Tesla has also faced several recalls and quality-control challenges involving the model, while repeatedly adjusting its prices.
The company does not publish separate sales figures for the Cybertruck, instead grouping it with other models, including the Model S, Model X, Semi and Cybercab, under its ‘Other Models’ category.
The category recorded 8,295 deliveries in the third quarter of 2026, compared with 12,364 in the second quarter, reflecting a decline in overall deliveries across the group.
The Cybertruck’s limited appeal outside the United States has further affected its commercial prospects, particularly in Europe, where regulatory approval has proved difficult because of its distinctive construction and safety requirements.
The production adjustment forms part of Tesla’s broader strategy to expand its autonomous transportation business, with Musk increasingly positioning the company as a major player in artificial intelligence, robotics and self-driving technology.
The Cybercab, which features butterfly-style doors and has no steering wheel, pedals or conventional mirrors, is expected to become the company’s main autonomous vehicle within its proposed robotaxi network.
Tesla began offering paid rides to members of the public using a limited fleet of Cybercabs in Austin in September, following years of delays to its self-driving programme.
However, the vehicle continues to face regulatory scrutiny, with the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration seeking clarification on whether Tesla properly demonstrated compliance with federal motor vehicle safety standards through its self-certification process.
Meanwhile, Cybertruck lead engineer Wes Morrill defended the vehicle’s contribution to Tesla’s technological development, describing it as an important engineering platform whose innovations would continue through the Cybercab.
In a post on X, Morrill said the Cybertruck had been an “incredible technology development platform” and would live on through the company’s autonomous vehicle programme.
Goodness Anunobi
Follow us on:
