Tesla’s Cybertruck, once promoted as an “apocalypse-proof” vehicle by CEO Elon Musk, is facing a severe decline in demand. According to data from Cox Automotive, Tesla sold just 5,400 Cybertrucks in the most recent quarter—a dramatic 62.6% drop from the same period last year.
The electric vehicle giant had originally projected the production of up to 250,000 Cybertrucks annually. However, Tesla has only sold approximately 16,000 units in 2025 so far, falling drastically short of expectations nearly two years after the truck’s November 2023 launch.
The Cybertruck’s poor performance is highlighted further by its main competitor, Ford’s F-150 Lightning, which sold 10,000 units last quarter—nearly double Tesla’s figure.
Several factors are being blamed for the Cybertruck’s market struggle:
- High Price Point: Early models launched around $100,000, well above Musk’s promised base price of $39,990. Although Tesla has introduced more affordable versions, the cheapest model currently available still costs close to $80,000.
- Unconventional Design: The truck’s angular, stainless steel design has divided public opinion and limited its appeal to mainstream buyers.
- Production Delays and Missed Promises: Delayed rollouts have hurt consumer trust and hampered momentum.
Adding to Tesla’s woes are several legal issues tied to the Cybertruck:
- Design Defect Lawsuit: One lawsuit alleges that a fire caused by a crash was so intense it disintegrated the driver’s skeleton. The suit claims the truck is “defectively designed.”
- Fatal Crash Allegations: Another lawsuit involves a crash in California that killed three teens. It accuses Tesla of using a flawed electronic door system that failed during the crash, trapping the occupants. The internal manual release was reportedly too difficult to find, making escape nearly impossible.
Attorney Roger Dreyer, representing the family of one of the victims, said Tesla was fully aware of the risks yet continued selling the vehicle without fixing the issue. “They are doing nothing but selling the car with a system that entraps people,” he stated.
Despite Musk’s high expectations, the Cybertruck is struggling both in the showroom and the courtroom, raising serious questions about its future viability in the increasingly competitive electric pickup market.
