Musk’s shock move a new Cybertruck low

Elon Musk has been forced to make a drastic move as he attempts to prop the sinking popularity of his hero car - the Tesla Cybertruck.

Elon Musk appears to be offloading Tesla’s struggling Cybertruck fleet to his own network of companies, as demand for the electric ute declines.

According to industry publication Electrek, both SpaceX and xAI, companies owned by Tesla chief executive officer Elon Musk, have taken delivery of hundreds of Cybertrucks in recent weeks.

Tesla once promised to produce 250,000 Cybertrucks per year, however, data from Cox Automotive reveals the company sold just 16,097 units in the US through the first three quarters of 2025.

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Elon Musk’s own companies are suddenly snapping up the Cybertruck - and everyone’s asking why. Picture: Getty

In the third quarter alone, Tesla sold 5,385 Cybertrucks, marking a 62.6 per cent year-on-year drop, even as overall US electric vehicle sales hit a record 438,487 units, up almost 30 per cent from last year.

Electrek reports that xAI’s offices have received several truckloads of Cybertrucks, while SpaceX has taken delivery of “hundreds” with more expected.

Cybertruck lead engineer Wes Morrill said the aerospace firm was phasing out petrol-powered support vehicles and replacing them with Cybertrucks.

“Love to see ICE support fleets from Tesla and SpaceX get replaced with Cybertruck. When we were engineering it, this was always part of the dream,” he said.

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SpaceX and xAI are under scrutiny after SpaceX and xAI reportedly purchased hundreds of Cybertrucks. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Morill did not comment on how many vehicles were being purchased or whether they were being acquired at full retail price.

Tesla’s Cybertruck has struggled to live up to its hype since launching in late 2023.

Musk had described it as “the most powerful tool we’ve ever built”, yet the vehicle has faced manufacturing problems, delivery delays and polarising reviews.

Cybertruck is struggling to sell. Picture: AFP

While the Cybertruck sales have been declining, rivals like Ford’s F-150 Lightning saw sales rise nearly 40 per cent in the third quarter, while General Motors’ Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra EVs recorded increases of 97.5 per cent and 771.8 per cent, respectively.