Elon Musk says Tesla will stop making Cybertrucks in 2027

Tesla Motors chief executive Elon Musk has said the company will cease production of its Cybertruck next year after the much-hyped driverless electric pick-up did not meet lofty expectations.

Instead, Tesla will now focus on boosting output of its Cybercab robotaxi, Mr Musk said in a post on X.

"Tesla will be winding down production of the Cybertruck at Gigafactory Texas around the middle of next year to make room for increased Cybercab production," he said, without providing further details.

The Cybertruck, launched to much fanfare in 2019, was hyped as a powerful and sturdy, and even bulletproof, pick-up. Mr Musk had said that Texas-based Tesla aimed to sell up to 250,000 units per year.

However, it failed to gain momentum due to a mix of issues, including not meeting price promises partly due to soaring production costs – it shot up to as high as $100,000 from its initial $39,900 tag – polarising aesthetics, safety concerns and an overall lack of interest from consumers.

Calculations vary, but industry estimates show that Tesla fell way short of its sales expectations, only selling as much as 50,000 Cybertrucks. The vehicle also infamously failed a durability test when its windows shattered after being hit by a metal ball during a live demonstration at its 2019 launch.

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Self-driving Tesla Cybertruck hits the streets of Dubai

The Cybertruck was Tesla's next grand move after the success of its electric sedans, which have helped propelled the company into one of the world's most valuable and sent Mr Musk to the top of the world's rich list.

The vehicle was initially hyped and was the subject of several online content, including pitting it against more established pick-ups in extreme conditions, teardowns and even bulletproof tests. The results were mixed, prompting users to question its quality and utility.

Aside from the Cybercab plans, Tesla last month also introduced its next-generation Roadster, the highest-end model of which was given the ability to "fly" using built-in thrusters developed by Mr Musk's other venture, SpaceX.

The latest Roadster, which is set to go into production in 2028, is billed as going from zero to 100kph in a second, significantly faster than the first-generation model.

Tesla has started accepting reservations for the Roadster. In the UAE, customers can reserve with an initial refundable payment of Dh20,000 ($4,847), followed by another Dh190,000 and Dh1 million for the Performance and Thrust models, respectively. The "flying" Rocket version, however, is not available in the Emirates.