Once hyped as the futuristic face of electric trucks, Tesla’s Cybertruck now appears to be driving straight into a wall metaphorically and logistically. With thousands of unsold units and rapidly declining consumer interest, the company is running out of places to hide its growing inventory problem.
These once-highly-anticipated vehicles are now accumulating dust — and drawing attention — in unlikely places, such as the parking lot of a defunct Bed Bath & Beyond store in a Detroit suburb. According to Automotive News, this impromptu vehicle graveyard is also violating local zoning rules. Officials have begun an “enforcement process” after informing the property owner that such storage was “not permitted.”
This visual metaphor of stagnation, rows of unused Cybertrucks lined up in a deserted lot, was amplified by a viral Instagram video. The person filming cheekily remarked, “Look at what you’re missing. Need a Cybertruck? We got you.” It’s humor tinged with irony, as enthusiasm for the electric truck has turned into public ridicule.
More broadly, the Cybertruck’s parking lot purgatory reflects deeper issues for Tesla. Earlier this month, Electrek reported that over 10,000 Cybertrucks, with a total estimated value of $800 million, remain unsold. That’s not just a supply chain hiccup, it’s a red flag flapping in the face of investors and consumers alike.
Tesla’s production slowdown at its Texas factory further confirms the vehicle’s dwindling appeal. Reports indicate that not only has output been reduced, but workers have also been reassigned, a quiet but telling admission that demand has plummeted.
The broader backdrop to this collapse includes Tesla’s faltering global sales and mounting criticism of CEO Elon Musk, particularly over his political views and controversial behavior. As cheaper and in many cases, more reliable EV alternatives emerge from global markets like China, the Cybertruck, with its stainless steel armor and sci-fi bravado, has become more of a meme than a movement.
