Musk defends Cybertruck as Tesla pivots to robotaxis: 'Never seen another like it'

Elon Musk has stepped in to defend the reputation of the Cybertruck as Tesla prepares to end its production, declaring that there will "never be another vehicle like it". According to the Daily Mail ^[1], the Tesla chief executive insisted the electric pick-up was not unprofitable, despite widespread reporting to the contrary. He stated that the decision to wind down the line was driven by the "opportunity cost" of the truck's complexity, which he claims is outweighed by the potential value of scaling production of Tesla's self-driving Cybercab robotaxis.

Speaking on his social media platform X, Musk revealed that the Cybertruck order rate currently far exceeds the company's production rate. He noted that Tesla would attempt to fulfil as many orders as possible before shutting down the line in approximately eight months, though many customers would receive refunds for their deposits. The Daily Mail reported ^[1] that this shift comes after Musk announced plans last week to halt Cybertruck production at the Texas factory next year to prioritise the two-passenger Cybercab.

The angular pick-up, which was finally launched in 2023 after significant delays, has struggled to meet Musk's ambitious sales targets. While the billionaire had previously talked of shifting more than 250,000 trucks annually, actual sales totalled around 20,000 units in 2025. The vehicle, priced at roughly £75,000 depending on the model, offers a 0-60mph time of 2.6 seconds and an estimated range of 325 miles.

Musk is now focusing his efforts on the Cybercab, aiming to compete with rival Waymo, the robotaxi service owned by Google parent Alphabet. He described the move to pivot towards driverless technology as a necessary step for Tesla's future growth, emphasising that the unique design of the Cybertruck would remain a singular achievement in automotive history.