Cybertruck has been called one of the biggest car flops of all time

Tesla will experience a massive sales debacle with the Cybertruck in 2026. Instead of the targeted 250,000 units, barely over 7,000 vehicles have been registered in the USA. Experts are already drawing comparisons to the historic flop of the Ford Edsel.

Disillusionment with the Tesla Cybertruck

Tesla is experiencing significant sales problems with its Cybertruck electric pickup truck in 2026 and it doesn’t look like this trend will reverse in the second half of the year. As of May, only 7,133 vehicles were registered in the US market. Tesla boss Elon Musk originally promised annual production of 250,000 units. The current figures are also supported by internal purchases, as the space company SpaceX is helping out with the purchase of Cybertrucks.

The pickup, which came onto the market in 2023 after several years of delay, is struggling with various hurdles. In addition to the polarizing design made of stainless steel, the price deters many interested parties. While Musk announced a starting price of just under 40,000 US dollars (around 35,171 euros) in 2019, the first buyers had to pay over 100,000 US dollars (around 87,927 euros). In addition, recalls and reports of jammed doors after accidents have a serious impact on the vehicle’s image.

Parallels to the Ford Edsel

Automotive historians are now drawing comparisons to a particularly well-known failure. As Bloomberg reported, the situation is reminiscent of the Ford Edsel from 1957. Ford also expected 200,000 sales in the first year, but did not even achieve a third of that. The Edsel also suffered from controversial design and technical deficiencies.

An example of the Edsel’s technical problems was the Teletouch system, a gear shifter integrated into the steering wheel. Drivers often accidentally put the car in reverse when they meant to honk.

Political influences

In addition to the technical aspects, Elon Musk’s public appearance undoubtedly has a negative impact on sales. His support for Donald Trump and his initial role in the government sparked protests. Many critics see the Cybertruck as a direct symbol of Musk. Experts assume that the vehicle will remain a niche product. However, according to Bloomberg, Garrett Nelson, an analyst at CFRA Research, estimates that Tesla will not officially discontinue the pickup truck in the next few years. A redesign is conceivable, but probably a futile undertaking. It is more likely that the model will slowly disappear from the market.