Cybertruck Disappoints: Tesla’s Overhyped Pickup Misses the Mark

Despite the buzz created by Elon Musk, Tesla’s futuristic Cybertruck has not lived up to expectations and is now being widely viewed as a commercial flop.

Tesla doesn’t release model-specific sales numbers, but its latest delivery report paints a grim picture. Between April and June this year, Tesla delivered around 384,000 vehicles globally—a steep 13.5% decline from the same period last year. And the Cybertruck? It’s buried within the vague “other models” category, which includes Tesla’s Model S, Model X, and the Cybertruck itself.

The “other models” category recorded just 10,400 deliveries in the second quarter—down sharply from over 21,500 units during the same quarter last year. That’s a 52% plunge, which industry watchers consider nothing short of a collapse.

Cybertruck Faces Weak Sales and Strong Competition

While exact Cybertruck numbers are unclear, previous data helps estimate performance. In Q1 2025, Tesla sold roughly 12,900 “other” models, with about 7,100 identified as Cybertrucks through vehicle registration data. If similar trends held, Q2 Cybertruck sales likely ranged between 5,000 and 6,000 units.

Even at the optimistic end, these figures fall massively short of Elon Musk’s 2022 projection of 250,000 units annually by 2025. That goal now appears increasingly out of reach.

Several major hurdles are dragging down the Cybertruck’s appeal. First, the pricing is steep, ranging from $80,000 to $100,000. Owners report real-world ranges of around 200 miles—far below the 500 miles initially promised. A promised range extender has also quietly vanished. On top of that, the Cybertruck has experienced multiple recalls, including one involving an external panel detaching while in motion.

Its polarizing design and cultural associations have also added fuel to the fire. Some see the vehicle as a political statement, linked to Musk’s increasingly right-leaning public persona, which has made it a target of vandalism in some cities. Weighing around 7,000 pounds, it’s also out of touch with sustainability trends and may struggle to qualify for future EV incentives.

Meanwhile, competitors like Rivian, Ford’s F-150 Lightning, and GM’s electric pickups are gaining traction, even amid industry-wide slowdowns. Internationally, Tesla is also under pressure. BYD, the Chinese EV giant, sold over 1 million vehicles in the first half of this year, compared to Tesla’s 721,000—putting BYD on track to overtake Tesla in global EV leadership.

Musk’s Vision vs. Reality: A Growing Gap

Tesla’s broader turmoil seems to mirror the Cybertruck’s underperformance. Once the darling of Wall Street, Tesla’s stock has dipped about 17% in 2025, though it remains up nearly 300% over five years—driven largely by Musk’s bold promises and loyal investor base.

While some investors still view Musk as a revolutionary tech leader paving the way for an AI-driven, driverless future, the reality is increasingly hard to ignore: missed deadlines, overpromises, and underdelivered products. The Cybertruck may not be the end of Tesla, but it’s a sharp reminder that hype alone can’t drive long-term success.