Elon Musk says Tesla Cybertruck production will end by mid-2025
Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced on X that production of the Cybertruck will wind down by the middle of next year, bringing an end to a 3.5-year manufacturing run for the angular electric pickup. Cox Automotive data shows the EV maker delivered an estimated 76,000 units over the past three years, falling short of early sales projections following its 2019 debut.
From Hawthorne Unveiling to Lower-Than-Expected Volume Sales
The vehicle first appeared on a stage in Hawthorne, California, in November 2019, where Musk initially predicted a starting price of $39,900 and production timelines pointing toward late 2021. Pandemic-related supply chain disruptions pushed those manufacturing dates back until production units finally began rolling off assembly lines in mid-2023. Deliveries to the first wave of customers, including Reddit cofounder Alexis Ohanian, kicked off in November 2023 alongside a promotional video showing the truck outracing a Porsche while towing a Porsche.
Tesla will be winding down production of the Cybertruck at Gigafactory Texas around the middle of next year to make room for increased Cybercab production
Despite generating substantial consumer attention, the truck’s unconventional aesthetic limited its broader market penetration. Stephanie Valdez Streaty, a director of industry insights at Cox Automotive, told businessinsider.com that while the design drew immense notice, those same distinct looks narrowed its overall appeal. Business Insider documented how the vehicle’s unique profile translated into pop culture visibility rather than high-volume sales.
Public Mishaps and Celebrity Spottings Mark Vehicle Lifecycle
The truck’s lifecycle featured several notable public moments, beginning with the 2019 unveiling where chief designer Franz von Holzhausen shattered the driver’s and rear-seat windows using a metal ball during a durability test. Days later, Musk shared a tug-of-war video pitting the Cybertruck against a Ford F-150, though critics questioned whether the matchup fairly compared all-wheel and two-wheel-drive configurations. Celebrity spottings followed the official release, including 2024 footage of songwriter and fashion mogul Pharrell Williams struggling to parallel park the vehicle.
Operational hurdles accompanied the public appearances. The Cybertruck accumulated 11 recalls, starting in April 2024 with nearly 3,900 early vehicles recalled due to a loose accelerator pedal pad that could cause unintended rapid acceleration. Subsequent service actions addressed windshield wiper malfunctions, loose exterior trim, delayed rear-camera feeds, potential power loss, and body panels that risked detaching while driving.
Political associations also shaped public perception as the vehicle became intertwined with Musk's public alignment with the political right. That political visibility deepened on March 11, 2025, when President Donald Trump hosted a Tesla showcase on the White House South Lawn, featuring a Cybertruck alongside other company models during a presidential press conference.
SpaceX Discloses Millions in Vehicle Purchases Before Production Ends
SpaceX disclosed in a May S-1 filing that it spent $131 million purchasing Cybertrucks from Tesla throughout 2025, accounting for roughly 1,200 to 1,800 vehicles depending on unit pricing.
Production will wind down until the middle of next year.