It's sunset for Tesla's divisive Cybertruck

Driving the news: Elon Musk says Tesla will wind down Cybertruck production next year to make room for its autonomous Cybercab.

• Musk once envisioned selling at least 250,000 Cybertrucks annually. Sales peaked below 40,000 in 2024 and have been falling ever since.

Friction point: Owners complained of rust spots, stuck accelerator pedals and malfunctioning windshield wipers. Some even found their rugged trucks stranded in snow or sand.

• Tesla recalled the Cybertruck 11 times, including twice to reattach stainless steel trim pieces that could fly off while driving.
• Neither the truck's $39,900 price target or its promised 500-mile driving range ever materialized. Most buyers paid closer to $100,000.

The irony: Automotive journalists generally admired its engineering, including innovative steer-by-wire technology, a 48-volt electrical system and supercar-like acceleration.

• Car and Driver called it a technological "moonshot," while MotorTrend praised its engineering excellence.

The bottom line: The Cybertruck may have been ahead of its time technologically. But its outlandish styling, high price and quality problems proved too much for mainstream pickup buyers.