Cybertruck Orders Exceed Production, But Elon Musk Reveals Why Tesla Will Stop Making It

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has dismissed reports suggesting that the company is discontinuing its electric pickup truck, Cybertruck, due to profitability concerns, clarifying that the decision is driven by plans to prioritise production of its autonomous vehicle, Cybercab.

In a post on social media platform X, Musk said demand for the Cybertruck continues to exceed Tesla's manufacturing capacity. However, the company plans to continue production for another eight to nine months before shutting down the production line to make room for increased Cybercab manufacturing.

"The Cybertruck order rate far exceeds our production rate. We will try to make as many as possible before shutting down the line in about 8 months, but will have to return deposits for a lot of people," Musk said in response to a user's post on X.

Rejecting claims that the vehicle was unprofitable, Musk explained that the decision was based on the greater potential value of expanding Cybercab production.

"This is not a case of Cybertruck being unprofitable, as has been misreported by legacy media, but rather that the opportunity cost of the complexity of Cybertruck is vastly outweighed by the value of incremental Cybercab production," he stated.

In an earlier post, Musk indicated that Tesla would wind down Cybertruck manufacturing at its Gigafactory in Texas around mid-2027 to increase production capacity for Cybercab.

Tesla unveiled the Cybertruck, featuring a distinctive stainless-steel exterior, in November 2019, while customer deliveries began in November 2023. Marketed as a futuristic alternative to conventional pickup trucks, the vehicle has faced challenges in achieving the mass-market demand initially anticipated.

Meanwhile, Cybercab, unveiled in October 2024, is a purpose-built autonomous electric vehicle developed for Tesla's planned robotaxi network. The two-seater vehicle is designed to operate without a steering wheel or pedals, reflecting Musk's vision of a fully autonomous transportation system.

The planned production shift signals Tesla's growing focus on autonomous mobility and its ambition to expand its robotaxi operations.