Not Quite the Electric Revolution
Tesla originally envisioned producing around 250,000 Cybertrucks annually, but the electric pickup has fallen well short of that target. To be fair, though, EV demand has been underwhelming in the U.S., especially since the Trump administration ended the $7,500 federal EV tax credit in September 2025.
But apparently, the U.S. isn’t the only market where the Cybertruck is feeling the heat. Over in the Land Down Under, Tesla has canceled plans to produce the electric pickup for Australia and New Zealand. This means the company won’t be rolling out a right-hand-drive version anytime soon, which could limit the nameplate’s reach in other RHD markets.
Tesla
A Long Wait With No Delivery
In an email sent to reservation holders, Tesla wrote, “After careful consideration, plans to produce Cybertruck for Australia and New Zealand have been discontinued. As a result, we’re unable to fulfil your reservation, and it will be cancelled.” This came nearly seven years after prospective buyers placed their deposits, back when it seemed the Cybertruck would play a significant role in the EV landscape.
But now, the Cybertruck’s future is uncertain. In addition to the canceled expansion, Tesla has adjusted the pickup’s pricing several times, suggesting it’s struggling to find the right balance between affordability and demand. There are also shifting priorities, with the EV maker increasingly emphasizing the Cybercab and Optimus. The latter is a humanoid robot planned to roll off the Fremont assembly line, which the company is freeing up by discontinuing the Model S and Model X.
More importantly, sales have been underwhelming. Cox Automotive estimates that Tesla sold 4,323 Cybertrucks in the U.S. in Q3 2026, a modest figure considering the pickup once attracted more than one million reservations. It was, however, the best-selling electric pickup, ahead of rivals like the Rivian R1T, but still far behind the company’s best-selling vehicle, the Model Y, which sold nearly 100,000 units.
Tesla
The Writing on the Stainless-Steel Wall?
As always, only time will tell. But from what’s happening right now, the Cybertruck’s future looks increasingly uncertain, especially in the full-size electric pickup segment, where Ford ended production of the all-electric F-150 Lightning, while Ram canceled plans for its battery-electric 1500 in favor of a range-extended version.
Tesla has yet to announce plans to discontinue the Cybertruck or introduce a successor. One of the latest hints about its direction came during the company’s January 28, 2026, earnings call, when Elon Musk discussed transitioning the Cybertruck production line toward fully autonomous vehicles, potentially used for local cargo deliveries within cities.
Tesla
