Originally published on ColdCaseTech.
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Then vs. Now (Not Delivered): Then: Elon Musk said Cybertruck reservations had reached 1 million and predicted Tesla would sell around 250,000 of the trucks annually (TechCrunch). Now: Musk said on X that Tesla will shut down the Cybertruck line in about eight months, and industry experts estimate about 71,000 Cybertrucks have been sold since deliveries began in November 2023 (TechCrunch).
Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced on Monday that the company will shut down Cybertruck production in about eight months, years after he predicted annual sales of around 250,000 (TechCrunch). Industry experts estimate about 71,000 Cybertrucks have been sold since the first deliveries in November 2023 (TechCrunch). The first announcement came on Friday, when Musk said Tesla would wind down production at Giga Texas around mid-2027 "to make room for increased Cybercab production" (Electrek).
Promised vs. Delivered
| Item | Promised | Delivered | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reservations | Musk cited 1 million reservations | Reservations never translated into actual sales, TechCrunch reported | TechCrunch |
| Annual sales | Musk predicted around 250,000 a year | Industry experts estimate about 71,000 sold since November 2023 | TechCrunch |
| Production | Supply chain built for 250,000 units a year | Line shutting down in about eight months | Electrek |
| Deposits | Reservations had ballooned to 1 million, according to Musk | Musk said Tesla will have to return deposits for a lot of people | TechCrunch |
Timeline
- 2026-11-06: Musk announced Tesla would wind down Cybertruck production at Giga Texas around mid-2027 (Electrek).
- 2026-11-09: Musk posted on X that the line will shut down in about eight months and that Tesla will try to make as many trucks as possible before then (TechCrunch).
Details (as Reported)
In his post, Musk wrote that the order rate "far exceeds our production rate" and that the move is "not a case of Cybertruck being unprofitable" (Electrek). He argued that the opportunity cost of the truck's complexity is vastly outweighed by the value of incremental Cybercab production (TechCrunch).
Electrek disputed the demand claim, reporting that the Cybertruck line has been running at roughly a quarter of its installed capacity (Electrek). Tesla's latest shareholder letter still lists more than 125,000 units of installed capacity, according to Electrek (Electrek). Tesla delivered 8,295 "Other Models" in Q3 2026, and Electrek estimated 7,000 to 8,000 of those were Cybertrucks (Electrek).
Cox Automotive estimates US Cybertruck sales fell from 14,416 in Q3 2024 to 3,519 in Q1 2026 and 3,744 in Q2 (Electrek). Electrek also reported that Tesla raised Cybertruck prices by up to 10% and paused orders for the cheapest trim on the day production was announced to end (Electrek). The cheapest orderable Cybertruck went from $69,990 in early August to $92,490, the outlet reported (Electrek).
SpaceX purchased $131 million worth of Cybertrucks from Tesla in 2025, according to its S-1 registration statement (TechCrunch). Wired reported that the truck's divisive design, Elon Musk's embrace of you name it and a number of recalls contributed to subpar sales (Wired). Wired noted the Cybertruck uses a 123-kilowatt-hour battery, while the Cybercab battery is 48 kilowatt-hours (Wired).
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What Is Not Yet Confirmed
- Musk's claim that orders far exceed production is disputed by Electrek, which cites Tesla's delivery figures and capacity (Electrek).
- Tesla does not disclose Cybertruck margins, so Musk's statement that the truck is not unprofitable cannot be checked, according to Electrek (Electrek).
- TechCrunch reported that sales could see a final bump as the truck goes out of production, though even a scarcity boost is unlikely to reach the projections made several years ago (TechCrunch).
Sources
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