Tesla ramps up Cybertruck production shortly before the model’s final disappearance
Tesla is making an unusual move with the Cybertruck: it is adding another production shift even though it plans to stop building the electric pickup in summer 2027. According to Elon Musk, orders exceed the remaining production capacity, and some customers will have to settle for a refund of their deposits. Replacing the Cybertruck will be Tesla’s next big bet, the driverless Cybercab robotaxi.
The last Cybertrucks will be built in summer 2027
An additional shift is being introduced for Cybertruck production at the Austin factory. The aim is to fulfil as many orders as possible before the production line closes in June or July 2027.
According to Reuters, Musk acknowledged that the company would nevertheless be unable to fulfil all orders and that some customers would receive refunds of their deposits. Tesla is not disclosing the exact number of orders.
In Tesla’s latest quarterly report, the Cybertruck factory’s stated annual production capacity was more than 125,000 vehicles. That does not, however, mean the factory has been operating at that rate or can run at maximum capacity throughout the remaining period.
From sales hit to disappointment
Cybertruck production began in late 2023, and Elon Musk once forecast annual sales of up to 250,000 vehicles.
The reality proved far more modest. According to Kelley Blue Book, Tesla sold 20,237 Cybertrucks in the US in 2025, down 48% from the previous year. In the first nine months of 2026, sales fell by a further approximately 28% to around 11,600 vehicles.
The model’s prospects were limited by its high price, quality problems and unusual stainless-steel body construction. The Cybertruck does not meet European type-approval requirements, leaving North America as its main market.
Sales difficulties for Ford’s F-150 Lightning and General Motors’ electric pickups show that the problem affects the wider segment. Large batteries increase price and weight, while towing a heavy trailer can significantly reduce range.
Tesla swaps its pickup for a robotaxi
Closing the Cybertruck production line will free up factory space and equipment in Austin to expand Cybercab production.
This fits Tesla’s revised strategy, with the company increasingly focusing on autonomous transport, artificial intelligence and robotics.
The Cybercab is a two-seat electric car with no steering wheel or pedals. Tesla hopes to use it to offer a driverless taxi service, but the model’s commercial success and widespread adoption have yet to be proven.
Ending Cybertruck production marks a significant strategic retreat for Tesla. The pickup, once supposed to reshape the future of the automotive industry, failed to achieve the promised sales volumes. It is now yielding production capacity to a technology with substantial economic potential, but whose success depends on even more complex technical and regulatory questions.
