Tesla will start winding down production of its futuristic Cybertrucks at its gigafactory in Texas, with the announcement by CEO Elon Musk following years of poor sales and recalls.
The move, which will begin in the middle of next year, aims to “make room” for increased production of its self-driving Cybercab, Musk said in a post on X Friday.
The stainless-steel, all-electric Cybertruck, which debuted in 2019, has faced weakening public demand over the years, with sales plunging an eye-watering 48% last year, according to a Kelly Blue Book sales report released in January.
“It doesn’t make sense to keep it going when it’s not meeting its targets,” former Aston Martin CEO Andy Palmer told Reuters. “Every rational auto guy would say the same.”
Drivers have endured reliability issues and multiple recalls, including for stuck pedals, rearview mirror delays, and a risk of the wheels falling off. There has also been public backlash, consumer alienation and reports of vandalism related to Musk’s political activism.
It wasn’t immediately clear whether production would move to another factory, though the company’s gigafactory, located outside of Austin, is the only Tesla facility known to be equipped to manufacture it. Musk, responding to a user on X, said that “the Cybertruck fleet will be around for a long time.”
A Tesla spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.