Tesla's Cybertruck arrived with big ambitions, a futuristic design and
Elon Musk's backing.
Now, it is bidding adieu.
The high-tech pickup was meant to shake up the automobile industry, but its journey is coming to an end. Musk announced on Friday that Tesla would wind down Cybertruck production around the middle of 2027 at its facility outside Austin, Texas.
The move will make room for increased production of the company's Cybercab robotaxi, as Tesla shifts its focus towards autonomous vehicles.
But what led to the Cybertruck's early exit? A combination of disappointing sales, a price tag that was much higher than initially promised and growing controversy surrounding Musk.
1. Sales and pricing failed to meet expectations
Musk had projected annual production of 250,000 Cybertrucks, but sales remained far below that target. Kelley Blue Book estimated that Tesla sold just 20,237 units last year, around half the previous year's sales. Sales through September this year fell another 28%. Spencer Penn, a former Tesla executive who left before the Cybertruck's launch and now heads software developer LightSource, said electric trucks had struggled…