Good riddance, Cybertruck!
I'm calling it: time of death, November 6th, 1:30 AM, by tweet. Elon Musk's declaration Friday that Tesla would be "winding down" production of the Cybertruck next year to make room for the Cybercab was fascinating for a number of reasons. First, it was a humiliating way to kill a vehicle that was once hailed as the pinnacle of Tesla's engineering - faster than a Porsche 911, more powerful than an F-150, able to…
Key points
- Elon Musk said Friday that Tesla will wind down Cybertruck production next year to make room for the Cybercab.
- Tesla targeted 250,000 Cybertrucks a year but has sold only 70,000 in total, the article says.
- The article links the timing to Musk's spending over $445 million on Republican races, including more than $200 million in Texas.
Elon Musk announced Friday that Tesla would be "winding down" Cybertruck production next year to make room for the Cybercab, according to The Verge. The article describes the move as a quiet end to a vehicle Musk once called Tesla's best product.
Tesla had targeted production and demand of 250,000 units a year, the article says, but has sold only 70,000 in total. SpaceX, Musk's other company, became one of the largest single buyers to absorb unsold inventory.
Spending and election results
The article notes the announcement came three days after an election in which Musk put over $445 million into Republican races, with more than $200 million spent in Texas, where Tesla and SpaceX are headquartered.
It reports that Democrat James Talarico beat Ken Paxton by 12 points, breaking a 38-year Democratic Senate drought in the state, and that Gina Hinojosa ousted Greg Abbott from the governor's mansion.
I think the Tesla Cybertruck is our best product ever
— Elon Musk
Why the truck failed
The article lists high price, less range and towing power than promised, and numerous recalls among the Cybertruck's problems, along with its appearance. It says the truck became tied to Musk's politics, with owners adding Trump wraps and using the vehicles at conservative rallies.
The article argues the election results left the Cybertruck a symbol of the past rather than the future.
