Musk says Tesla is winding down Cybertruck production, but wants an extra shift to clear backlog before a transition to Cybercab

Tesla’s Cybertruck run is facing an abrupt end, at least as a production priority, according to remarks attributed to CEO Elon Musk in a recent business news report. Musk said Tesla is “killing” Cybertrucks, suggesting the company intends to stop producing the vehicle in its current form before reallocating manufacturing resources to newer projects.

In the same comments, Musk also said Tesla needs to add an additional production shift to work through its backlog of Cybertruck orders. The goal, as described in the report, is to complete outstanding demand before production stops and the factory focus shifts to building Cybercabs, a separate vehicle line the company has positioned as part of its longer-term plans.

For Tesla, the distinction matters because a “backlog” is not just a marketing term. It generally refers to customer orders that have been placed but not yet fulfilled. When production is reduced, backlog levels can become a central issue for customers and for how the company manages expectations around delivery timelines.

Cybertruck is Tesla’s electric pickup, introduced as a low-volume, high-demand model with manufacturing challenges that have been widely discussed since the vehicle’s launch. As with other constrained models, ramping output or extending operating hours is often the fastest operational lever available to address order backlogs, though it can also increase costs if the company has to run beyond its normal staffing and equipment schedules.

The report frames the operational change as a tradeoff. Tesla would be reallocating time and capacity away from Cybertruck production in order to meet what Musk portrayed as a bigger overall demand picture, likely tied to upcoming platforms. Adding a shift suggests Tesla wants to preserve credibility on deliveries in the near term, even if it reduces the long-term production commitment to the Cybertruck.

Tesla’s next steps, including any factory retooling and the timing of the transition to Cybercabs, appear to be central to what investors will watch next. Cybercab, broadly described as a future Tesla vehicle, is associated in public discussion with the company’s work on autonomy and ride-hailing ambitions, which would represent a different market and manufacturing strategy than an electric pickup.

Still, the report does not provide details that investors typically look for in manufacturing updates. It does not specify which factory or production line would be affected, how long the “end” of Cybertruck production would last, or whether Tesla plans to resume Cybertruck production later under a refreshed design or revised cost structure.

For now, the most concrete takeaway is the pairing of two moves: a reduction in Cybertruck production activity, and an effort to clear existing orders quickly by increasing operating shifts. The lack of hard numbers, specific dates, and operational guidance means it remains unclear how much backlog Tesla can realistically absorb before any transition begins, and what the plan implies for future deliveries and customer cancellations.