If there was one vehicle that collectively captured the pure curiosity and disgust of the general public, none would come close to Tesla’s (TSLA) polarizing electric utility vehicle: the Cybertruck.
Whether in photos, on social media, or in public, the very presence of the angular machine can trigger a complex spectrum of emotions ranging from pure rage to unfettered curiosity from those who lay eyes on them.
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Not long after Tesla’s delivery event in November 2023, hype for the Cybertruck triggered a period of inflated value on the secondary market, with many examples going for six-figure values eclipsing its original base price.
But while Tesla CEO Elon Musk intended the Cybertruck to be a revolutionary sales success, the angular trucks are facing a sales slowdown as dwindled hype and demand run opposite of Tesla’s production capabilities, with many examples piling up in inventory lots across the country.
A Tesla Cybertruck inside the company’s store in San Francisco on Jan. 2, 2025.
Tesla scales down Cybertruck production
After a full year of being on sale, the Musk-led EV automaker has reportedly moved workers on the Cybertruck line at its Austin Gigafactory over to Model Y production, as per a new report by Business Insider.
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According to documents viewed by the publication, Tesla notified workers of the changes at its Austin, Texas Gigafactory in December, where it attempted to accommodate its line workers once they transition over.
“As we continue to assess schedules to meet business needs, we’ll be making a change to Model Y and Cyber schedules and we want to ensure that your preferences are considered,” the survey said.
The practice of shuffling production line workers across different models is common for much larger auto brands like Stellantis or Ford.
For instance, in January 2024, Ford transferred approximately 700 workers from its Rogue Electric Vehicle Center to the nearby Michigan Assembly plant in reaction to slowing sales of the electric Ford F-150 Lightning and growing demand for the Ranger pickup and Bronco off-roader.
However, this kind of adjustment is new to Tesla. Gigafactory staff workers told BI that “changing production schedules for existing vehicles” is a characteristically “unusual” move for Tesla, noting that such changes only happen when a new model comes out.
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The same workers also noted that during meetings with supervisors, they learned that Tesla is scaling down its Cybertruck team and planned to produce fewer parts for the truck during the first quarter of 2025. According to them, some staff members will move to other Cybertruck teams.
According to one of the Austin Gigafactory workers who spoke to BI, most people wanted to stay making Cybertrucks, however, “some people were forced to switch over.” They speculated that the shift was because of the higher profit margins on the Model Y.
Tesla does not release sales numbers for individual models, as the company reports Cybertruck deliveries alongside those for the Model S sedan and Model X SUV under “other vehicles.”
According to the latest data, the automaker delivered 85,133 “other vehicles” in 2024, while it delivered 68,874 the previous year. However, documents from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration released as part of a recall involving the Cybertruck in October noted that the number of delivered Cybertrucks was around 27,000 units.
Related: Tesla’s new redesigned Model Y has fans divided on social media
Tesla sees the writing on the Cyber-Wall
The current production hiccup is far from the only one affecting the polygon-shaped utility EV. In December, a document addressed to Gigafactory workers noted of a three-day work stoppage where workers were told that they were not required to report to work.
But despite being America’s best-selling electric pickup in Q2 2024, the third-best-selling EV in the country during the third quarter, and the best-selling car — gas or electric — over $100,000 during the first half of 2024, the hype behind the Cybertruck has seemed to die down.
In a December 20 Reuters report, S&P Global Mobility associate director of industry analysis Tom Libby noted many signs of that point to the idea that Tesla cannot move Cybertrucks, not limited to allowing buyers to bypass reservation holders and place Cybertruck orders directly, recognizing that Cybertrucks are available for immediate delivery, as well as lease offers as low as $899 per month.
“When you see those types of deals, they are basically an indication of softening demand,” he said.
In addition, data from CarGurus showed that Cybertrucks have started to pile up on used car lots, with the average sale taking place 75 days after being listed.
“The number of days they’re sitting is getting longer and the price is coming down, and I can tell you the sales volume has come down,” CarGurus director of economic and market intelligence Kevin Roberts said.
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