The Cybertruck nightmare is well and truly here. Just months after Elon Musk’s bold promises of annual sales reaching a quarter million, Tesla’s stainless-steel-clad pickup is nose-diving. Latest data shows Tesla sold only about 5,385 Cybertrucks in Q3 2025 a crushing 63% drop from last year. For the full year, sales are on track to barely hit 20,000 units, a far cry from Musk’s early hype.
The situation is so grim that Musk has resorted to a desperate and eyebrow-raising move: selling unsold Cybertrucks to his own companies. Deliveries of Cybertrucks have been spotted to SpaceX and xAI, Musk’s AI startup, padding Tesla’s own sales numbers. Whether these internal transfers are counted in official numbers or just a accounting band-aid remains unclear.
The Cybertruck’s troubles don’t end with disappointing sales. Its pricing, once advertised at under $40,000, now often starts near $80,000. Recalls, design criticism, and scepticism about real-world driving range have only added to consumer wariness. The truck’s polarising angular looks and political controversies surrounding Musk haven’t helped either.
Meanwhile, Tesla’s competitors, like Ford with its F-150 Lightning, are grabbing EV pickup market share. The Cybertruck’s slump mirrors broader struggles in Tesla’s lineup, which saw overall sales slow despite surging demand for Model 3 and Y.
For Musk, the Cybertruck’s flop is no minor hiccup it’s a glaring miss on a project once hailed as revolutionary. Selling trucks to himself may hide the inventory for now, but the uphill battle to reclaim public trust and market momentum is only just beginning.
