Tesla Ends Cybertruck Production to Prioritize Robotaxi Manufacturing

Tesla will stop building its Cybertruck pickup next year to free up capacity for its upcoming robotaxi.

Elon Musk announced the decision on X on Friday, stating that production of the vehicle will wind down around the middle of 2027. The move allows the company to increase output of its Cybercab at its facility outside Austin, Texas.

The vehicle first appeared in 2019 during a product launch event where a designer threw a metal ball at the windshield to demonstrate its strength. The glass shattered, and the designer repeated the stunt on a side window with the same result. Musk defended the design at the time, telling Automotive News he wanted to build a futuristic battle tank that looked like it came from Blade Runner or Aliens. He described the truck as a better sports car than a Porsche 911 and a better truck than a Ford F-150.

Sales data suggests the model struggled to meet expectations. Kelley Blue Book estimates Tesla sold 20,237 Cybertrucks last year, a drop of about half from the previous year. Sales through the end of September this year fell another 28%. Musk had previously predicted annual production of 250,000 units. Early pricing also disappointed some buyers; while Musk had promised a price tag under $40,000, the first trucks sold for double that amount or more.

The truck’s sharp angles and stainless-steel body attracted both intense loyalty and sharp criticism. Armen Hareyan, who covers autos for Torque News, noted that few vehicles in history have generated as much attention. He called the Cybertruck a cultural symbol that was loved, mocked, and impossible to ignore. Spencer Penn, a former Tesla executive who now heads software developer LightSource, recalled feeling revolted by the vehicle’s initial appearance. He called the look madness but later signed up for a pre-sale reservation before backing out due to the final price.

Political tensions surrounding Musk further complicated the vehicle’s reception. The CEO’s alliance with President Donald Trump and other right-wing figures alienated some customers who previously viewed him as an eccentric innovator. Passionate Tesla drivers began selling their vehicles or adding stickers to their bumpers that read, I bought this before Elon went crazy. Protesters staged demonstrations outside showrooms and urged investors to sell their shares. The conflict sometimes turned violent, with Molotov cocktails thrown at Tesla vehicles and charging stations set on fire. Dealerships were covered in graffiti, and owners of Cybertrucks became targets of shouts and gestures from onlookers.

Ross Blankenship, a Cybertruck owner in Sunnyside, Colorado, described his attachment to the vehicle as a return to his childhood love of the Halo video game. He said in a phone call that he bought the truck to be part of something cool that would change the future of automotive. Although he agreed with Musk on many political points, he said it was heartbreaking to see the vehicle turned into a political symbol. Blankenship said he would buy another Cybertruck in a heartbeat and called the end of production a sad moment.

The production halt marks a shift in Tesla’s strategy toward autonomous vehicles, a sector on which Musk is betting the company’s future. The Cybertruck, which Musk had previously called Tesla’s best product, will cease to be a new option for buyers as the company reallocates resources to the Cybercab.