Tesla to wind down Cybertruck production to pivot factory lines toward Cybercabs and Optimus Robotics
Tesla Chief Executive Elon Musk announced that the company will officially wind down production of the Cybertruck at Gigafactory Texas around the middle of 2027. The decision marks a dramatic end to the stainless-steel electric pickup’s turbulent run, clearing valuable manufacturing floor space to scale up production of Tesla’s autonomous Cybercab and the Optimus humanoid robotics platform.
The abrupt pivot underscores a broader corporate realignment as Tesla shifts away from high-friction consumer vehicle experiments to focus entirely on autonomous transport and AI-driven automation.
Weak Sales and Manufacturing Realities
The wedge-shaped truck, which faced persistent criticism over its high price tag, polarizing design, and regulatory roadblocks that barred it from European and international markets, struggled significantly to secure a lasting commercial foothold.
Following initial fulfillment of early reservation holders, demand slumped sharply. Kelley Blue Book and market analytics firms estimated annual sales fell well below Tesla's original factory capacity goals, forcing the vehicle into obscurity within corporate financial disclosures. Additionally, strict pedestrian safety regulations in Europe and other international jurisdictions ensured the angular, unyielding exoskeleton design could never be certified for global public roads.
According to internal disclosures, Elon Musk’s private rocket company, SpaceX, acted as one of the truck's largest corporate purchasers, buying over $130 million worth of Cybertrucks at list price to support internal fleet needs.
Reallocating Gigafactory Texas for Cybercabs and Humanoids
Musk confirmed on social media that the physical lines currently dedicated to the Cybertruck at Gigafactory Texas will be re-tooled to maximize output for the Cybercab - Tesla’s steering-wheel-free, two-passenger autonomous taxi.
Alongside the Cybercab ramp-up, the factory footprint is being expanded to accommodate manufacturing lines for Optimus, Tesla's ongoing push into commercial and domestic humanoid robotics. The move completes Tesla's evolution from a traditional electric vehicle manufacturer into an autonomous software, robotaxi, and robotics enterprise, mirroring similar strategic contractions across the legacy automotive landscape as companies battle margin compression and intense competition from overseas EV makers.
