Tesla to axe Cybertruck as Musk shifts focus to robotics and AI

Tesla plans to wind down Cybertruck production at its Texas gigafactory around the middle of next year to boost self-driving Cybercab output, according to a Friday X post by Elon Musk. Cybertruck lead engineer Wes Morrill publicly said the vehicle’s technology 'lives on through Cybercab', making this attributed public confirmation rather than an anonymous rumour. Tesla also ended premium Model S and X production earlier this year as Musk shifts focus and investment toward robotics and AI. Cybertruck was unveiled in 2019 and launched in 2023; Musk originally targeted 250,000-500,000 units a year. Cox Automotive estimates January-September sales of 11,586 Cybertrucks, down 28 per cent year on year and 1.6 per cent of US EV sales, versus analysts’ 22,000 full-year expectation. SpaceX has been one of Cybertruck’s biggest buyers as consumer demand weakened; Tesla and SpaceX are exploring a merger Musk called 'a good idea'. Tesla began Semi Truck mass production in April and, at its latest earnings, said it aimed to deliver Cybercabs to customers by end-2026, while Musk plans to focus on Optimus robots, Cybercabs and Semi as Chinese competition pressures conventional EVs. Tesla shares have fallen 15 per cent since Republican midterm losses; Musk spent more than $200mn backing Texas Republican Senate and gubernatorial candidates, but Democrats won both. Caveats: timing is approximate ('around the middle of next year'); no formal separate Tesla release, retooling budget, robotics spend total or headcount plan is given; sales are Cox estimates; merger remains exploratory; the 15 per cent share drop is midterm context, not a measured Cybertruck-announcement reaction.