The vast majority of Tesla’s sales remained the Model 3 saloon and Model Y SUV, with 478,000 combined deliveries in that quarter. Tesla this year also stopped production of the Model S and Model X amid declining sales of those ageing products. Tesla started deliveries of the Cybertruck in late 2023 after long delays as it grappled with technical challenges of making the unusual vehicle, particularly its steel shell.
Tesla has started offering paid trips in the Cybercab, which has space for two passengers and no steering wheel, in limited parts of Austin, Texas. It is aiming to start production of a road-bound version in 2028.
The decision marks a further shift in Tesla’s automotive focus toward an autonomous driving fleet, robotics and artificial intelligence rather than a steady stream of new models aimed at private buyers.
Beyond the Cybercab, the Texas factory will also be used to build Tesla’s Optimus humanoid robot. Tesla is still ramping up production of its long-delayed Semi electric lorry.
The Cybertruck never went on sale in Europe because it did not meet required safety standards.
Musk did not say whether Tesla planned to produce the Cybertruck at another factory. Doing so would probably require significant investment in specialised tooling.
Analysts do not expect Tesla’s Roadster to make a large difference to future profits.
Even before sales began, Musk had acknowledged how difficult it would be to make the truck a success. In a 2023 earnings call he said: “We dug our own grave with Cybertruck,” citing “enormous challenges” in raising production and earning money from it.