From The Verge · Andrew J. Hawkins · · 2m
Good riddance, Cybertruck!
Elon Musk quietly ends the Cybertruck after it became a symbol of his political turn, just days after his election spending failed spectacularly.
In brief
Elon Musk quietly ends the Cybertruck after it became a symbol of his political turn, just days after his election spending failed spectacularly. Tesla will wind down Cybertruck production next year after selling only seventy thousand units against a target of two hundred fifty thousand, as the vehicle became…
Musk ends Cybertruck production
Elon Musk announced Friday that Tesla would wind down Cybertruck production next year to make room for the Cybercab. The announcement came via tweet on November sixth at one thirty AM.
From pinnacle to quiet death
The Cybertruck was once hailed as Tesla's engineering pinnacle, faster than a Porsche nine eleven and more powerful than an F one fifty. Musk declared in twenty nineteen it was Tesla's best product ever.
“I think the Tesla Cybertruck is our best product ever”
Massive sales shortfall
Tesla targeted two hundred fifty thousand Cybertruck units per year. To date, the company has sold only seventy thousand units total, forcing SpaceX to buy many to absorb unsold inventory.
Musk's election spending failed
Three days before the Cybertruck announcement, Musk's political spending collapsed. He poured over four hundred forty five million dollars into Republican races, targeting Texas with over two hundred million dollars alone.
Texas turned blue despite spending
Democrat James Talarico crushed Republican Ken Paxton by twelve points, breaking a thirty eight year Democratic Senate drought. Gina Hinojosa ousted Greg Abbott from the governor's mansion. Texas turned blue.
Cybertruck became political symbol
When Musk became a Trump supporter, the Cybertruck became inseparable from his politics. Electric vehicles are typically associated with coastal progressivism, but the Cybertruck crossed the aisle to become a physical avatar of Trump's politics.
Ownership became a liability
Model three and Model Y owners could claim they bought before Elon went crazy. Cybertruck owners could make no such claim. Owning one had become a rolling liability tied to Musk's brand.
MAGA culture embraced the truck
Many Cybertruck owners were not interested in distancing themselves from Musk.Owning one became a way to get under the skin of liberals, car purists and environmentalists.Owners slapped Trump wraps on them and flew flags.
Election stripped away the sheen
The blue tsunami was a historic rejection of Trump and Musk's brand of right wing grievance politics.
From future to instant relic
The election rendered the Cybertruck an instant relic.The vehicle that was so desperate to look like the future became an immediate symbol of the past.
“Has there ever been a vehicle so desperate to look like the future, only to become an immediate symbol of the past?”
The short version
Tesla will wind down Cybertruck production next year after selling only seventy thousand units against a target of two hundred fifty thousand, as the vehicle became inseparable from Musk's political involvement.
