November has been a bad month for electric pickup truck enthusiasts.
Pickup trucks are a uniquely American concept that has become a staple on U.S. roads.
During previous presidential administrations, electrifying former internal combustion engine pickups into EVs became a costly priority for the U.S. Big 3: Stellantis, Ford, and GM.
Over the past few years, we’ve seen EV versions of the ubiquitous Ford F-150, the Dodge Ram, and the Chevy Silverado. In more recent times, we’ve also seen companies pull back on their pickup EV ambitions.
Last week, it was reported that Ford is considering shelving its F-150 Lightning after years of dismal sales amid a $1.4 billion third-quarter loss at its EV division, Model e.
In September, Stellantis revealed it is shelving its plans for an all-electric Ram 1500 REV pickup truck. It said that demand for full-size battery electric trucks is slowing in North America.
Instead, it is renaming the range-extended electric vehicle Ramcharger to Ram 1500 REV. REEV vehicles are primarily battery-powered but feature an internal combustion engine, providing an extended range.
This week, Tesla is making another change to its Cybertruck division that should concern fans of the vehicle.
Image source: Nic Coury/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Tesla Cybertruck sales drop nearly 40% year over year
The Cybertruck has had a rough lifecycle since it debuted to much media hype in 2023.
Tesla went on a social media campaign to hype the futuristic, angular-looking vehicle as celebrities like Kim Kardashian and Cardi B broadcasted the delivery of their trucks on their social media handles during its debut.
Related: Elon Musk finally tells Joe Rogan the ugly truth about the Cybertruck
But since its hot start, Cybertruck sales have cooled down tremendously.
While Tesla does not release official delivery numbers, analysis from outside estimates, such as Finbold Research, suggests the company has sold just over 16,000 Cybertrucks as of October, European Business Magazine reported.
While sales rebounded slightly in the third quarter as consumers rushed to take advantage of the $7,500 EV tax credit that expired in September, Cybertruck sales faced a 38% year-over-year decline.
Tesla sold about 5,400 Cybertrucks in the third quarter, representing a 62.6% year-over-year drop, according to Cox Automotive data. Tesla typically doesn’t trail its ICE rival Ford in EV sales, but even Ford’s F-150 Lightning EV pickup sold 10,000 units in the same period.
Head of Tesla Cybertruck resigns after 8 years
After years of delays, Tesla finally delivered the Cybertruck in 2023.
Elon Musk first created buzz in 2017 when he teased a picture of a pickup truck that would eventually be known worldwide as the Cybertruck.
Related: Tesla breaks Q3 delivery records, but headaches loom
Musk promised that the truck’s electric powertrain could generate enough towing capacity to make the more heavy-duty Ford F-150 blush. The Cybertruck would be “a pickup truck that can carry a pickup truck.”
But the most exciting promise made back then was the idea that this powerful behemoth would be affordable, starting at $39,900.
The vehicle actually debuted with a $60,000 price tag and the vehicle currently has a starting MSRP north of $72,000, according to Car and Driver, and it has been plagued by recall issues ever since.
On Nov. 10, Tesla announced the departure of the man who has been there since the beginning.
Siddhant Awasthi, Tesla’s head of the Cybertruck program, announced he is leaving the company after more than eight years.
Awasthi worked his way up after joining the company straight out of school in 2018. Within two years he became an engineering manager, and within three, he was the technical program manager in charge of the Cybertruck. He was made head of the Cybertruck program in 2022.
Related: Tesla’s latest move could make it tougher to sell more Cybertrucks
