The Tesla Cybertruck is approaching the end of the road, with production scheduled to wind down in 2027. After years of disappointing sales, the decision hardly came as a surprise, although Elon Musk has offered an unexpected explanation for what happens next.
According to the Tesla CEO, demand for the stainless-steel pickup is now so strong that the company won’t be able to build enough examples before production ends. In fact, he says some customers will have their deposits returned because their trucks simply won’t get made.
It’s a curious claim for a vehicle that has struggled to approach Tesla’s original sales ambitions. The Cybertruck was once expected to become a major player in America’s pickup market, but its actual sales figures tell a different story.
In a November 9 post on X, Musk defended the decision to discontinue the truck, arguing that Tesla has a better use for its manufacturing resources. That explanation raises an obvious question: if demand is so strong, why stop building it?
More Orders Than Tesla Can Fulfill?
The Cybertruck order rate far exceeds our production rate. We will try to make as many as possible before shutting down the line in about 8 months, but will have to return deposits for a lot of people.
This is not a case of Cybertruck being unprofitable, as has been misreported by legacy media, but rather that the opportunity cost of the complexity of Cybertruck is vastly outweighed by the value of incremental Cybercab production.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 9, 2026
Musk said Tesla would attempt to produce as many Cybertrucks as possible before shutting down the assembly line in approximately eight months. He also claimed the company would need to refund deposits for numerous customers whose orders couldn’t be fulfilled.
Tesla reportedly plans to add another production shift to work through outstanding orders. However, Musk hasn’t disclosed the number of orders involved, making it difficult to independently assess the scale of the claimed demand.
The Sales Numbers Tell Another Story
According to Kelley Blue Book figures cited by Reuters, Tesla sold 20,237 Cybertrucks in the United States in 2025, down 48% from 38,965 in 2024. That’s a long way from Musk’s earlier prediction of approximately 250,000 annual sales.
The truck has also faced recalls, quality complaints, and pricing changes since deliveries began in late 2023. Its unconventional stainless-steel construction and regulatory obstacles have further limited opportunities outside North America.
Tesla Has Bigger Plans for Its Texas Factory
Musk insists the Cybertruck isn’t being discontinued because it’s unprofitable. Instead, he argues that dedicating the factory’s capacity and resources to the Cybercab robotaxi offers Tesla greater potential value.
The company plans to dismantle the Cybertruck production line around mid-2027 to expand Cybercab manufacturing. That two-seat autonomous vehicle has become central to Tesla’s ambitions beyond conventional passenger cars.
Of course, a rush of last-minute Cybertruck orders wouldn’t necessarily contradict its disappointing historical sales, particularly with production ending. Still, without verified reservation figures, Musk’s assertion proves difficult to reconcile with the pickup’s commercial performance. Only time will tell whether Tesla really has to return deposits.