The futuristic Cybertruck by Tesla is facing a roadblock as the U.S. inventory is said to have exceeded 10,000 units, creating a fear of dwindling demand for the once-hyped electric pickup. Despite its daring design and initial hype, the ballooning stockpile is a harbinger of trouble for the EV giant.
As reported by Tesla-Info.com, there has been a sharp increase in Cybertruck listings in a single month. Although a portion of the rise could be attributed to more vehicles being available, Tesla’s aggressive pricing tactics could be distorting the numbers. By breaking down the discounted variants separately even when they are almost the same, Tesla may be unintentionally inflating its reported inventory. At the average price of €70,300 per Cybertruck, the unsold fleet may amount to more than €721 million in tied-up capital.
Analysts attribute the increasing backlog to slow sales, not increased production. In fact, Tesla seems to have slowed down production in the last few months. Some of the inventory includes early 2024 models and even the limited-run “Foundation Series,” which ceased production in October 2024.
The release of a rear-wheel-drive (RWD) Cybertruck with the same battery pack as the AWD model indicates a strategic shift by Tesla. Initially, the RWD version was expected to provide different battery sizes, but the streamlined RWD version is likely a result of lower-than-expected production volumes, a strategy Tesla has used in the past with the Model S and Model X.
With the current inventory at almost six months’ worth of sales and demand trailing, the future of the Cybertruck is unclear. Even with an estimated production of 250,000 units per year, Tesla might find it difficult to sell more than 20,000 units per year in the current circumstances. Industry insiders speculate that a production pause, or a severe reduction, may be in the offing. It will not be long before Tesla and Elon Musk have to admit to trouble in the Cybertruck program.
