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Elon Musk issues last minute change to fate of Cybertruck: ‘Room in this world for sentimentality’
Elon Musk says Tesla will keep making the Cybertruck through the end of summer 2027, extending production days after he announced it would be wound down. The extension is intended to clear the vehicle’s backlog and gives Tesla more time to meet existing demand, despite Musk saying it is not the most profitable choice.
Musk had said production would end around the middle of next year to make room for more Cybercab production. Tesla’s Texas headquarters is the only site equipped to make the Cybertruck’s specialised components. US sales fell to about 20,000 last year from nearly 39,000 in 2024, well below Musk’s forecast of 250,000 annual sales; Tesla is also pursuing the Cybercab, a two-seat autonomous vehicle without a steering wheel or pedals.
In short
- Cybertruck production is extended through summer 2027.
- Tesla says the extra time will help clear its backlog.
- US sales were about 20,000 last year, down from nearly 39,000.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Extending production could be a reasonable way to meet orders already placed and give customers who have waited for the truck a clearer path to delivery. Even if it is less profitable in the short term, honouring demand and allowing more time to assess the market may support customer trust and avoid an abrupt end to the product.
The case against
Ending production sooner could free scarce factory capacity and resources for the Cybercab, which Tesla sees as a future business opportunity. With Cybertruck sales far below Musk’s earlier forecast and declining year on year, continuing a less profitable model may be a poor use of capacity if the backlog does not translate into sustained demand.
Explained simply
Tesla is an electric-car company led by Elon Musk. Its Cybertruck is a large electric pick-up made in Texas, where Tesla’s factory is the only one equipped to produce its specialised parts.
The truck’s US sales fell last year, far short of Musk’s earlier forecast. Tesla is also developing the Cybercab, a two-seat vehicle designed to drive without a steering wheel or pedals, which would use factory capacity now devoted to the Cybertruck.