Cybertruck production faces a scheduled shutdown by mid-2027 as aftermarket tuner Unplugged Performance offers to take over the vehicle line from Tesla.
Elon Musk announced on Friday that Tesla will wind down production of the electric pickup at Giga Texas. Musk stated the decision will free up floor space for increased Cybercab manufacturing.
The proposed takeover comes backed by a consortium of investors. “The company says it fully supports putting Cybercab first and would run Cybertruck production” at no cost to Tesla's floor space or headcount, Unplugged Performance wrote in its pitch on X.
“We’ll wait our turn,” the company wrote regarding battery cell allocation for the Cybercab, according to Electrek.
The Cybertruck order rate far exceeds our production rate. We will try to make as many as possible before shutting down the line in about 8 months, but will have to return deposits for a lot of people. This is not a case of Cybertruck being unprofitable, as has been misreported… https://t.co/rGmNKV3ILs
“In exchange, Tesla would collect a license fee plus FSD and Robotaxi network revenue on every vehicle built,” the company added, noting that Unplugged Performance even offered to let Cybercab get first call on battery cells.
Tesla sales figures fall below initial production projections
Tesla planned for an annual production rate of 250,000 units when manufacturing started in 2023, Global News reported. Current sales figures sit far below those initial projections.
Data from Cox Automotive and Kelley Blue Book cited by Global News show Tesla sold 11,586 units by the end of Q3, marking a 28 percent decrease compared to the same period in the previous year. Motor Intelligence estimated sales at roughly 11,600 trucks through September, Yahoo Finance Canada reported.
The vehicle has also faced regulatory scrutiny and consumer challenges. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recorded 11 recalls and more than 175 customer complaints, Global News noted. An April 2024 recall involved nearly 4,000 vehicles due to a stuck accelerator pedal.
An open offer to Tesla: We fully support putting Cybercab first, and we’d be glad to take the Cybertruck line off your hands. We’d fund it with a consortium of investors and run it at no cost to Tesla’s floor space, headcount, or focus. All of that goes to Cybercab. Cybercab gets…
Public reception remains polarized. The Guardian highlighted profiles of owners encountering negative reactions, including hostile notes, alongside safety warnings from road safety campaigners regarding the vehicle’s sharp edges.
Unplugged Performance Pitch
The tuner offered to build a three-row CyberSUV and an unmanned CyberCargo hauler alongside the standard truck.
My feed is filled with people who want a Cybertruck. Even after Cybertrucks stop being manufactured in about eight months, used ones will still be available on the market. Anyone who truly wants one will find a way to get it. We’re lucky these were around for as long as they…
Neither Musk nor Tesla representatives had publicly responded to the proposal.
The large electric pickup segment has experienced broader market cooling. Major automakers have adjusted EV strategies amid high battery costs and limited towing utility compared to internal-combustion models, according to industry analysis reported by Yahoo! Finance Canada Finance Canada.
Cybertruck Production Questions
What reasons did Elon Musk give for ending production?
“make room for increased Cybercab production,” Elon Musk said, stating that winding down the assembly line around mid-2027 is necessary at Giga Texas.
How many vehicles has Tesla sold?
Data from Cox Automotive and Kelley Blue Book show Tesla sold 11,586 units by the end of Q3, reflecting a 28 percent drop from the prior year.
With the @cybertruck production wind-down (Giga Texas line shut mid-2027 to prioritize Cybercab; many deposits to be refunded as order rate exceeds remaining capacity), plus what I saw at @NASA MAX POWER event at KSC … companies demonstrating real civilian + military/dual-use… pic.twitter.com/xjJxuyNGmN
What does Unplugged Performance plan to build?
The aftermarket tuner proposed manufacturing the standard pickup, a three-row CyberSUV, and an unmanned CyberCargo hauler backed by a consortium of investors, Electrek reported.
How many safety recalls has the vehicle received?
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration issued 11 recalls for the truck, including a 2024 action covering nearly 4,000 vehicles for a stuck accelerator pedal.
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