On the Dash:
- Cybertruck deposits will be refunded for many customers as orders exceed production capacity.
- Tesla will build as many Cybertrucks as possible before the line closes in about eight months.
- Dealers should watch used Cybertruck trade-ins since Tesla sells direct and new supply is finite.
Tesla will refund Cybertruck deposits for many customers because orders far exceed what the company can build before the line shuts down. The move follows last week’s announcement that the automaker is winding down the pickup at its Texas factory, as CEO Elon Musk shared the update in a post on X on Monday.
Because the company will have to return deposits to many people, the EV maker will add an extra production shift to fill outstanding orders before it dismantles the line next year.
Tesla adds a shift but cannot fill every order
The extra shift at the Texas Gigafactory is meant to work through outstanding orders, as the EV maker plans to dismantle the line next year to expand output of the Cybercab, its robotaxi. Musk addressed the reasons for the decision in a post on X.com.
The Cybertruck order rate far exceeds our production rate. We will try to make as many as possible before shutting down the line in about 8 months, but will have to return deposits for a lot of people.
This is not a case of Cybertruck being unprofitable, as has been misreported by legacy media, but rather that the opportunity cost of the complexity of Cybertruck is vastly outweighed by the value of incremental Cybercab production.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 9, 2026
Musk announced the wind-down on Friday, with production slated to end in mid-2027, which sets a firm limit on how many trucks Tesla can deliver. Customers whose orders fall outside that capacity will receive refunds.
Cybertruck demand never matched Musk’s projections
Cybertruck sales have lagged Musk’s projections since deliveries began in late 2023, even as he says orders now exceed production. U.S. sales fell 48% to 20,237 units last year from 38,965 in 2024, according to Kelley Blue Book. Musk had earlier projected that annual sales could reach 250,000 vehicles.
However, the weak demand extends beyond Tesla, as Ford dealers sold only about 1,500 F-150 Lightnings in October 2025, compared with roughly 66,000 gas-powered F-Series pickups. Ford later discontinued the all-electric Lightning but plans to bring it back as an extended-range EV.
While Tesla is shifting its focus to the Cybercab, which began public rides in parts of Austin, Texas, in September, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said at the time that it was evaluating the rollout. The agency also opened an audit into whether the vehicle meets federal safety standards.
Watch used Cybertruck trade-ins
The news points to a finite supply of new Cybertrucks and a set end date for the model. Since Tesla sells its vehicles directly, any effect on dealers is more likely to show up in the used market. Moreover, stores that take Cybertrucks in on trade may want to watch how values move as production nears its end. Additionally, customers who lose their place in line could also shop other electric pickups.
Dealers with electric pickups in stock should reassess their inventory and incentives. The F-150 Lightning’s journey from launch to discontinuation illustrates how quickly demand for electric trucks can change.
