Elon Musk Announces Cybertruck Will Officially Be Discontinued After Years of Controversy, Lawsuits and Low Sales
Musk says focus will be redirected focus towards fully autonomous vehicles
Tesla CEO Elon Musk has announced the company is officially ending production of its controversial Cybertruck electric pickup.
“Tesla will be winding down production of the Cybertruck at Gigafactory Texas around the middle of next year,” the tech billionaire wrote in a Nov. 6 X post, referencing the large production facility in Austin.
The vehicle, which features an angular, stainless-steel design, was first introduced as a prototype by Musk in 2019, according to The New York Times. At the time, Musk said “It’s not going to be for everyone.”
Tesla began production of the fully electric car in Austin in 2023. The company sold them for about $80,000 to $100,000, depending on customizations. During its first year of production, Musk had anticipated the company would sell about 250,000 units annually.
However, a Kelley Blue Book Electric Vehicle Sales Report found the company only sold 20,237 Cybertrucks in 2025. That figure is down 48% from the 38,965 units sold in 2024.
Since the Cybertruck first hit the market, it has been the subject of ridicule for its harsh, sci-fi-inspired design. In March 2025, the company recalled 46,000 trucks due to a risk of a trim panel detaching.
The vehicle has also been the subject of multiple lawsuits. Last year, the parents of two college students killed in a crash sued the company claiming the design made it nearly impossible to escape, per the New York Times. Earlier this year, the sole survivor of another fiery Cybertruck crash that left three others dead sued the company with similar claims.
According to experts, the decision to end Cybertruck production was expected. The Times reports Tesla’s stock rose around 5% after the news on Friday morning.
The announcement came days after Musk’s net worth dropped by $113 billion, per CNN, citing Bloomberg’s Billionaires Index. After spending nearly $500 million in campaign contributions for Republicans in the midterm elections on Nov. 3— a largely ineffective effort — shares plummeted by more than 12% for both of Musk’s publicly traded companies: Tesla and SpaceX.
Musk noted in his X announcement that the decision was made in an effort to “make room for increased Cybercab production.” The vehicle, a fully autonomous two-seater with no steering wheel or pedal, began production in Austin in July. Its first demonstrations took place in September.
“Cybertruck was an incredible technology development platform and lives on through Cybercab,” Wes Morrill, Cybertruck’s lead engineer, responded to Musk on X.
According to Tesla’s website, the vehicles act like a driverless rideshare. The company suggests customers will be able to hail the cars in an app and “use it for errands, commuting and more.” While it only fits two passengers, it promises to have “enough trunk space for luggage, golf clubs, scooters and more.”
The service, Musk’s latest effort for fully autonomous vehicles, is currently operating across Texas in Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth and Houston, as well as in Miami, Orlando and Tampa, Fla.
PEOPLE has reached out to Tesla for further comment.
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