Tesla is preparing to refund deposits to some Cybertruck customers as outstanding orders exceed the number of vehicles the electric vehicle manufacturer can produce before its planned production shutdown in 2027.
The company’s Chief Executive Officer, Elon Musk, disclosed the development in a post on X on Monday, explaining that Tesla would attempt to fulfil as many outstanding orders as possible before shutting down the Cybertruck assembly line in approximately eight months.
“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,” Musk said.
The announcement follows Tesla’s recent decision to gradually wind down Cybertruck production at its Texas manufacturing facility and redirect resources towards the development of its Cybercab robotaxi.
Musk had previously indicated that the company would introduce an additional production shift to clear outstanding Cybertruck orders before the assembly line is eventually dismantled.
The planned shutdown, expected around mid-2027, forms part of Tesla’s broader strategy to expand production of the Cybercab, a vehicle central to the company’s ambitions in autonomous transportation.
Tesla began delivering the futuristic electric pickup in late 2023, generating significant attention across the automotive industry. However, sales have fallen considerably short of Musk’s initial expectations.
According to Kelley Blue Book, US sales of the Cybertruck declined by 48 per cent to 20,237 units last year, significantly below Musk’s earlier projection of 250,000 vehicles annually.
The development highlights the challenges Tesla faces in sustaining demand for the electric pickup while shifting its manufacturing priorities towards autonomous vehicles and other emerging technologies.
