Tesla’s long-hyped Cybertruck is facing a dramatic downturn in sales, signaling deeper challenges for the electric automaker. According to Cox Automotive, Cybertruck sales dropped 51% year-over-year in Q2 2025, with only 4,300 units sold. This is despite Tesla previously boasting over 2 million pre-orders and gearing up to produce 125,000 trucks annually. So far, just 10,700 units have been sold in 2025, casting serious doubt on the truck’s ability to meet even last year’s modest total of 39,000.

Traditional automakers are now outpacing Tesla in the electric truck space. In Q2, Ford’s F-150 Lightning and GMC’s Hummer EV both outsold the Cybertruck. Cox Automotive described the situation as dire, calling the EV market “hyper-competitive” and offering Tesla “no relief.” The price may also be a factor — the most popular Cybertruck starts at $80,000, far above the $50,000 initially promised in 2019. Meanwhile, the vehicle has suffered multiple recalls and is under federal investigation for safety issues, including viral reports of panels falling off.

Tesla’s engineering decisions are under scrutiny, with critics citing the truck’s aluminum castings as a weak point for towing. The upcoming expiration of the $7,500 EV tax credit in September might spark a short-term sales boost, but analysts remain cautious. Stephanie Valdez Streaty of Cox warns of a potential Q4 sales collapse after a brief Q3 surge.

Separately, Elon Musk came to Donald Trump’s defense amid a new controversy tied to Jeffrey Epstein. A resurfaced letter allegedly signed by Trump was published by The Wall Street Journal, prompting Trump to denounce it as fake and threaten legal action. Musk dismissed the letter’s authenticity, saying it “doesn’t sound like something Trump would say.”