Tesla Cybertruck Sales Stall After Initial Hype
▼ Summary
– Tesla’s overall EV sales are improving due to expiring federal tax credits, but Cybertruck sales are declining sharply.
– Cybertruck sales dropped 63% in Q3 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, with only 5,385 units sold.
– The Cybertruck’s 2025 sales total of just over 16,000 units falls far short of Elon Musk’s initial annual projection of 250,000.
– Other electric truck models like the Rivian R1T and Ford F-150 Lightning are experiencing sales increases while Cybertruck struggles.
– Tesla is delivering unsold Cybertrucks to Elon Musk’s other companies, SpaceX and xAI, to help manage inventory.
Tesla’s overall electric vehicle sales are experiencing a welcome resurgence, largely driven by consumers eager to secure federal EV tax credits before they expired. This positive trend, however, masks a significant struggle for the automaker’s most futuristic offering. While models like the Model 3 and Model Y are flying off the lots, the Cybertruck is facing a dramatic and unexpected sales collapse.
The numbers tell a stark story. During the third quarter, Tesla managed to sell only 5,385 Cybertrucks. This figure represents a staggering 63 percent decline compared to the same period in the previous year, when the company delivered over 14,000 units. Cumulatively for the year, Cybertruck sales have just surpassed 16,000. This performance falls drastically short of the ambitious annual sales target of 250,000 units once projected by CEO Elon Musk. Industry analysts now anticipate Tesla will deliver approximately 20,000 Cybertrucks for the entire year, a sharp drop from the estimated 50,000 sold in 2024.
This sales data, originally published by Kelley Blue Book and reported by Business Insider, highlights the truck’s specific challenges. Tesla’s own reporting practices make it difficult to track the Cybertruck’s performance precisely, as the company groups its sales with the Model S and Model X under an “other models” category.
The Cybertruck’s slump is particularly notable given the broader context. The third quarter was a record-breaking period for the overall EV market, with a total of 438,487 units sold. This represented a massive 40.7 percent jump from the previous quarter and a 29.6 percent increase year-over-year, fueled by the end-of-September deadline for the $7,500 tax credit. With sales expected to plummet in the fourth quarter without that incentive, the Cybertruck’s position could become even more precarious.
Making the situation more embarrassing for Tesla is the fact that its electric truck rivals are not experiencing the same difficulties. The Rivian R1T posted a 13 percent year-over-year sales increase this quarter. The Ford F-150 Lightning saw a impressive 39.7 percent gain, and GMC reported a 21.9 percent rise for the Hummer EV and an astonishing 771 percent surge for the Sierra EV.
Compounding the sales woes, Tesla is also confronting serious safety concerns and legal action. The families of two young individuals who died in a fiery Cybertruck crash have filed a lawsuit against the company. They allege that faulty door handles on the vehicle prevented their loved ones from escaping the accident.
The situation has become so challenging that Elon Musk has initiated an unusual strategy: buying the trucks himself. According to reports from Electrek, Tesla has been delivering unsold Cybertrucks to Musk’s other companies, SpaceX and xAI. The vehicles destined for SpaceX are reportedly intended to replace the company’s existing fleet of traditional gasoline-powered vehicles.
(Source: The Verge)
