Tesla will wind down production of its Cybertruck at its Texas factory next year, Elon Musk says, a decision he said was made to "make room" for building more of its self-driving Cybercab cars. Musk did not spell out whether the company plans to stop making the truck entirely or shift production elsewhere.
The project's lead engineer appeared to suggest the vehicle was being discontinued. Wes Morrill wrote on X: "Cybertruck was an incredible technology development platform and lives on through Cybercab."
The angular, stainless-steel pickup attracted diehard fans but was beset by delays before launching in 2023 and has had disappointing sales numbers since.
Tesla fans have been mourning the news online, with one person calling it "the best vehicle Tesla has ever made" as he lamented it being "discontinued next year". Musk responded to the user with the word "true", adding: "But the Cybertruck fleet will be around for a long time."
The vehicle has long been a passion project for Musk. He said it was "way more awesome than people realise" in March and called it the "best product Tesla has ever made to date" in April. But there have always been big questions about whether consumers shared that view and whether the Cybertruck could earn a spot in the lucrative US truck market.
Its introduction to the public was inauspicious. In 2019, Musk attempted to show off the truck's apparently unbreakable glass, only for it to shatter during a live demonstration. Despite the gaffe, the Cybertruck received 146,000 orders, Musk said that year, while it was still in development.
Fans praised its retro-futuristic look, which some said was “straight out of Blade Runner”; critics joked about its appearance and labelled it “ugly as sin”. Several recalls, including one in 2025 affecting more than 46,000 Cybertrucks over concerns that part of its trim could fall off, would not have helped.
Price was another concern. "We need to make it at a price that people can afford," Musk told Wall Street analysts, and the truck ended up at $61,000 (then £48,000) for all the "bells and whistles". In 2026, the so-called "Cyberbeast" model comes in at $102,000.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The Cybertruck was Tesla's most distinctive vehicle bet, aimed at the lucrative US truck market, and winding down production after disappointing sales ends a project Musk championed as the "best product Tesla has ever made to date".
- Musk's stated reason shows where Tesla's priorities lie: the Texas factory will make room for more self-driving Cybercab cars.
- What the wind-down means for the existing fleet is unclear beyond Musk's assurance that it "will be around for a long time".
Background
The Cybertruck was unveiled in 2019 with an angular stainless-steel body that set it apart from conventional pickups, and it became one of the most talked-about vehicle launches in years. Delays pushed its release to 2023. Tesla has increasingly made self-driving technology central to its strategy, with the Cybercab as its purpose-built robotaxi.
Key Perspectives
- Elon Musk: says Tesla will wind down Cybertruck production next year to "make room" for more Cybercab cars, and insists the fleet "will be around for a long time".
- Wes Morrill, Cybertruck lead engineer: says the truck "was an incredible technology development platform and lives on through Cybercab", appearing to confirm it is being discontinued.
- Tesla fans: are mourning the news, with one calling the Cybertruck "the best vehicle Tesla has ever made" and lamenting it being "discontinued next year".
- Critics: have mocked the truck's looks, labelling it "ugly as sin".
What to Watch
- Whether Tesla clarifies that the wind-down means a full end for the Cybertruck or a shift of production to another site, something Musk left unspecified.
- Whether Cybercab production starts at the Texas factory as the Cybertruck lines close next year.
- Sales figures for the truck's final production year, including the $102,000 "Cyberbeast" model, as a measure of remaining demand.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedTesla will wind down Cybertruck production at its Texas factory next year, according to Elon Musk.BBC News: “Tesla will wind down production of its Cybertruck vehicles at its Texas factory next year, Elon Musk says.”
- SupportedMusk said winding down production would make room to build more self-driving Cybercab cars.BBC News: “but did say the decision was to "make room" for building more of its self-driving Cybercab cars.”
- SupportedMusk did not say whether Tesla would stop making Cybertrucks entirely or move production elsewhere.BBC News: “He did not spell out whether it plans to stop making them entirely or shift production elsewhere”
- SupportedLead engineer Wes Morrill appeared to suggest the Cybertruck was being discontinued, writing that it “was an incredible technology development platform and lives on through Cybercab.”BBC News: “But the project's lead engineer, Wes Morrill, appeared to suggest the vehicle was being discontinued, writing on X: "Cybertruck was an incredible technology development platform and lives on through Cybercab."”
- SupportedThe Cybertruck was delayed before its 2023 launch and has had disappointing sales since.BBC News: “the Cybertruck attracted diehard fans, but was beset by delays before being launched in 2023 and has had disappointing sales numbers since.”
- SupportedA fan called the Cybertruck “the best vehicle Tesla has ever made” and lamented that it was “discontinued next year.”BBC News: “with one person calling it " the best vehicle Tesla has ever made, external " as he lamented it being "discontinued next year".”
- SupportedMusk replied “true” and said the Cybertruck fleet would be around for a long time.BBC News: “Musk responded to the user, external with the word "true", adding: "But the Cybertruck fleet will be around for a long time."”
- SupportedMusk said in 2019 that the Cybertruck had received 146,000 orders while still in development.BBC News: “the Cybertruck ended up receiving a 146,000 orders, Musk said in 2019 , while it was still in development.”
- SupportedThe Cybertruck’s glass shattered during a live demonstration in 2019 when Musk tried to show it was apparently unbreakable.BBC News: “in 2019 when Musk attempted to show off the Cybertruck's apparently unbreakable glass, only for it to shatter during a live demonstration.”
- SupportedA 2025 recall affected more than 46,000 Cybertrucks over concerns that part of the trim could fall off.BBC News: “Several recalls - including in 2025 affecting more than 46,000 Cybertrucks over concerns part of its trim could fall off”
- SupportedMusk told Wall Street analysts, “We need to make it at a price that people can afford,” and the truck ended up at $61,000 (then £48,000) for all the “bells and whistles.”BBC News: “"We need to make it at a price that people can afford," Musk told Wall Street analysts that year - which ended up being $61,000 (then £48,000) for all the "bells and whistles".”
- SupportedIn 2026, the Cyberbeast model costs $102,000.BBC News: “In 2026, the so-called "Cyberbeast" model comes in at $102,000.”
