The Final Push
One of the biggest recent stories in the automotive industry is Tesla’s plan to end Cybertruck production at Gigafactory Texas in mid-2027. While Tesla once targeted annual production of 250,000 Cybertrucks, it sold only 20,237 units in the U.S. last year. But before the all-electric pickup truck’s assembly line is dismantled, company CEO Elon Musk said Gigafactory Texas will add an extra shift to increase Cybertruck production and address its order backlog.
That decision suggests there may be renewed interest in the electric pickup as its planned shutdown approaches. Another possible explanation is that the backlog includes orders accumulated over time. Musk didn’t elaborate on his statement or disclose the size of the order backlog, but at least the EV maker appears committed to fulfilling outstanding orders rather than abandoning them.
The Tesla Cybertruck order backlog is currently far more than we can make before dismantling the line for Cybercab expansion around June/July next year.
We will add an extra shift to try to get all orders done in time.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 7, 2026
Running Out of Charge
There are several possible reasons why Tesla is winding down Cybertruck production. But perhaps among the most significant is the broader EV slowdown in the U.S., which became more apparent after the Trump administration ended the $7,500 federal EV tax credit in September 2025. Amid the slowdown, Ford axed the all-electric F-150 Lightning, while Ram canceled its battery-electric 1500 pickup in favor of a range-extended version.
The Tesla Cybertruck was actually the best-selling electric pickup truck in the U.S. in Q3 2026, selling 4,323 units, according to Cox Automotive. That beats direct rivals, including the Rivian R1T (1,732 units sold) and GMC Sierra EV (1,661 units sold). But given the ambitious 250,000-unit annual target, the nameplate joins the company’s big ambitions that fell short, including the second-generation Roadster’s promised 2020 launch and the $25,000 EV that never materialized.
Other challenges the Cybertruck faced in its short-lived run include 11 recalls and its polarizing design, which has also prevented it from securing regulatory approval in Europe.
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Tesla’s Next Act
There is plenty more to say about the Cybertruck, but internally, Tesla is shifting its resources toward the Cybercab and Optimus humanoid robot, even dropping the Model S and Model X in the process. These would expand the brand beyond an EV maker into an AI-driven robotics and robotaxi company.
While production winds down, the Cybertruck is still available to order on Tesla’s customer-facing website, though the entry-level Dual Motor AWD version is already off the menu. The Premium AWD is available with a starting price of $92,490, while the Cyberbeast, which uses a tri-motor setup that enables a zero-to-60-mph run in 2.6 seconds, starts at $102,490.
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