Face palm: Tesla seems to be killing off the Cybertruck, and according to Elon Musk, the reason isn’t because almost no one is buying them. The CEO says production of the electric vehicle will end around the middle of next year to make room for something more important: increased Cybercab production.
Musk’s explanation is met with great skepticism. The real reason is more likely that the truck isn’t selling nearly as well as Tesla or Musk expected.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 6, 2026
Electrek writes that Tesla places the Cybertruck in the “other models” segment of its sales reports along with the Model S, Model X and now the Semi. A total of 8,295 vehicles in this category were delivered in the third quarter of 2026, 48% fewer than in the previous year. Since the production of Model S and Model
It’s certainly not the first time that the controversial electric vehicle has reportedly been sold in very low numbers. That estimate, which implies an annual sales pace of about 30,000 trucks, is well below the 250,000 that Musk originally expected from Tesla per year.
Cox Automotive offers an even lower U.S. estimate: 4,323 Cybertrucks in the third quarter, for a nine-month total of 11,586.
The warning signs have been around for some time. Last year it was reported that Cybertruck sales fell to just 4,306 in the second quarter of 2025, down 50.8% year over year. SpaceX and xAI began arriving by the truckload in October, giving Tesla a convenient outlet for vehicles that regular buyers weren’t exactly lining up to buy.
There were also many problems beyond weak demand. Buyers also had to deal with recalls, including an accelerator pedal cover that could get caught in the interior trim. As of November 6, 2026, there have been 11 safety recalls for the Cybertruck in the United States, including over-the-air software fixes. The most recent case occurred in April 2026 and affected 173 trucks with 18-inch steel wheels because the wheel bolts could come loose from the hubs
The resale value didn’t offer much consolation either. Last year, trade-in depreciation reached 34% after just one year and 6,000 miles. So much for preserving value.
There’s a caveat to the apparent cancellation: Reuters notes that Musk hasn’t said whether production will move elsewhere or stop altogether. However, Texas is currently the only known Tesla facility equipped to produce the truck’s specialized components.
For now, Musk is relying on the Cybercab, which has neither steering wheel nor pedals. Tesla began offering paid rides in Austin in September, although the company continues to face questions about its compliance with federal safety regulations.
