Austin, Nov 7 (V7N)- Tesla is considering scaling back or ending production of its much-publicised electric pickup truck, the Cybertruck, at its Texas factory next year as the company shifts its focus towards manufacturing the self-driving Cybercab.
Tesla Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk announced the possible production changes but did not clarify whether the Cybertruck would be completely discontinued or production would be moved to another factory.
Musk said the move was intended to increase production of the Cybercab, Tesla's autonomous vehicle project.
Wes Morrill, chief engineer of the Cybertruck programme, also appeared to hint at the possibility of the vehicle being discontinued. In a social media post, he described the Cybertruck as a remarkable platform for technological innovation and said its technological advances would continue through the Cybercab.
The Cybertruck attracted considerable attention among Tesla enthusiasts, but its development and launch were marked by repeated delays. The vehicle finally entered the market in 2023, although sales have reportedly fallen short of expectations.
News of the possible production halt has disappointed some Tesla fans. One social media user described the Cybertruck as the best vehicle Tesla had ever made and expressed regret over the prospect of its production ending next year.
Musk responded with the word "true", while adding that the existing Cybertruck fleet would remain on the roads for a long time.
The vehicle has been a personal project of particular interest to Musk. In March, he described it as far more impressive than many people realised. In April, he also called it the best product Tesla had ever made.
However, analysts have questioned whether Musk's enthusiasm would translate into sustained demand among ordinary buyers, particularly in the competitive US pickup truck market.
The Cybertruck's unconventional design, high price and manufacturing challenges have all been cited as obstacles to attracting a wider customer base.
The vehicle first drew widespread attention during its unveiling in 2019, when a demonstration of its supposedly unbreakable window glass went wrong. A Tesla engineer threw a metal ball at the window during the presentation, but the glass shattered, creating an embarrassing moment for Musk.
Despite the incident, interest in the vehicle remained strong. Musk announced in 2019 that Tesla had received 146,000 reservations for the Cybertruck.
When the vehicle finally reached the market in 2023, it retained its distinctive stainless-steel exterior and sharply angular design. Some fans compared its futuristic appearance to vehicles from the science-fiction film Blade Runner, while critics questioned its unusual styling.
A series of technical problems also affected the vehicle's reputation. Tesla issued several recalls, including one in 2025 involving more than 46,000 Cybertrucks over concerns that an exterior trim component could detach.
Pricing has been another challenge. At a 2023 meeting with Wall Street analysts, Musk acknowledged that production costs needed to be reduced to make the vehicle affordable for a wider market.
However, the fully equipped version was priced at around $61,000, equivalent to approximately £48,000 at the time. By 2026, the high-performance Cyberbeast version had risen further in price to $102,000.
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