By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
AUSTIN, Texas — Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced Friday, Nov. 6, that the company will wind down Cybertruck production at its Gigafactory Texas facility around the middle of 2027, redirecting manufacturing capacity toward its Cybercab autonomous vehicle as the electric pickup struggles to meet earlier sales expectations.
The decision marks a significant shift for the stainless-steel truck, which entered production in 2023 after years of delays and became one of Tesla’s most recognizable vehicles.
In a post on X, Musk said, “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.”
According to a New York Post report published Friday, Tesla has not clarified whether Cybertruck manufacturing will move to another facility or end entirely.
The Austin plant is currently the only known Tesla factory equipped to manufacture the Cybertruck’s specialized components, making a relocation potentially complicated.
The announcement follows several years of weaker-than-expected demand for the unconventional pickup, which Musk initially promoted as a competitor to established models from Ford, General Motors and other automakers.
Tesla unveiled the Cybertruck in November 2019, attracting considerable attention with its angular stainless-steel body, armored-glass claims and unconventional design.
Customer deliveries began in November 2023, but the vehicle has faced production difficulties, pricing changes and multiple recalls since its introduction.
The Cybertruck was originally expected to become a high-volume product, with Tesla planning manufacturing capacity of approximately 250,000 vehicles annually.
Actual sales have remained substantially below that level.
According to Reuters reporting on Tesla’s production decision, the vehicle’s limited market appeal, high purchase price and quality-control problems contributed to disappointing sales.
Tesla does not separately disclose Cybertruck deliveries in its quarterly financial reports, instead grouping the model with other vehicles.
Industry estimates indicate that Cybertruck sales declined substantially after its initial launch period.
Cox Automotive estimated that approximately 20,237 Cybertrucks were sold in the United States during 2025, while sales remained weak through the first half of 2026.
The decline contrasts with the ambitious production volumes previously discussed by Musk.
Tesla has also adjusted the Cybertruck’s pricing and available configurations several times in an effort to attract buyers.
The vehicle has experienced recalls involving accelerator pedals, exterior trim components and other safety-related issues, adding to concerns about manufacturing quality.
Despite the sales difficulties, Musk has continued to defend the truck.
Responding to discussion of the production decision Friday, he described the Cybertruck as the “best vehicle Tesla has ever made” and acknowledged the transition as the “end of an era.”
Cybertruck lead engineer Wes Morrill also addressed the announcement, emphasizing the technologies developed for the vehicle.
“Cybertruck was an incredible technology development platform and lives on through Cybercab,” Morrill wrote on X.
Morrill indicated that Tesla intends to continue providing replacement parts and service support for existing Cybertruck owners.
The company’s decision reflects its increasing emphasis on autonomous transportation and robotics.
Tesla’s Cybercab is a two-seat electric vehicle designed for fully autonomous operation, without conventional steering wheels or pedals.
Musk has positioned the Cybercab as a central component of Tesla’s planned robotaxi network, which he believes could eventually become a major source of revenue.
Production of the Cybercab began at the Austin facility earlier in 2026, and Tesla has started offering limited paid autonomous rides in selected areas.
Expanding production would allow Tesla to increase the number of vehicles available for its robotaxi operations as it pursues a broader commercial rollout.
However, regulatory questions remain concerning the Cybercab’s safety certification and compliance with federal motor vehicle standards.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has examined aspects of Tesla’s certification process, particularly because the vehicle lacks traditional driver controls.
Those issues could affect how quickly Tesla expands autonomous operations beyond limited service areas.
Musk’s announcement also illustrates the company’s changing manufacturing priorities as it attempts to compete in an increasingly crowded electric vehicle market.
Although the Cybertruck helped introduce technologies including steer-by-wire controls and a 48-volt electrical architecture, its commercial performance has fallen short of Tesla’s original ambitions.
The Cybercab incorporates some of those technologies while targeting a different market centered on autonomous passenger transportation rather than individually owned pickup trucks.
Tesla has not announced a final Cybertruck production date, disclosed how many additional vehicles it plans to manufacture or explained how outstanding customer orders will be handled.
The automaker has also not identified another facility that could assume Cybertruck production after the Austin operation winds down.
For existing owners, Tesla’s engineering leadership has indicated that parts and maintenance support will continue, although details of the company’s long-term service plans have not been announced.
The production change is scheduled for approximately mid-2027, when Tesla expects to devote more of its Texas manufacturing capacity to the Cybercab and its autonomous transportation strategy.
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