The much-hyped Tesla Cybertruck that was initially expected to starve the electric pickup segment has found its level in actual sales. New data released by Cox Automotive shows that Tesla sold 5,385 Cybertrucks in the third quarter of 2025, making it the second-best-selling electric pickup in the U.S.
The Ford F-150 Lightning was in first position and achieved 10,005 sales in the year 2021, which is almost twice that of Tesla. Those numbers highlight a concerning fact about Tesla and its futuristic truck that was launched with huge hype and is currently struggling to fulfill production and has a relatively smaller buyer base than predicted.
A Far Cry from Musk’s Half-Million Vision
Elon Musk had ambitious prospects when he first introduced the Cybertruck in 2019, when he strategized that Tesla would eventually sell half a million of them annually. It was only a natural progression of the Tesla domination in the EV environment at that point. But as present statistics indicate, the firm is nowhere near that target.
Some of the deficit can be explained by a lack of capacity to produce at the Gigafactory Texas, where Tesla has a complex stainless-steel body design, which has been said to slow down production. The polarizing look of the truck and its high cost might also be another reason, as it might have reduced the popularity among the mass market despite the cult following.
Fleet Demand and Internal Usage Rising
Interestingly, it is reported that SpaceX and other companies headed by Musk have started to buy Cybertrucks to use them as part of their internal fleet. This implies that there is a possibility that intra-company demand is a driver of a part of the vehicle sales volume and not the traditional consumers.
Also, Tesla has been taking unsold Cybertrucks into its own fleet, using them as mobile service vehicles and as promotion tools. Although this remains something to keep the production going, it also indicates a likelihood that the consumer demand might have reached its peak sooner than the projected time.
The original hype of Cybertruck could not be underestimated. Its debut was met by thousands of pre-orders, which were supported by viral moments and the charismatic marketing by Musk. However, when deliveries commenced, the truth leaked out: the truck is too large, heavy, and has a non-mainstream appearance, and there have been recalls in the past, hence it is less viable for general pickup consumers.
Although the Cybertruck is impressively fast, with an acceleration time of under 3 seconds 0-60 mph and a maximum range of half a million miles in the most advanced models, numerous buyers are discovering more conventional vehicles, such as the Ford Lightning or the Rivian R1T, to be more beneficial to them.
The Broader EV Pickup Landscape
Nevertheless, the Cybertruck is still beating the majority of the competition in the segment. No other pickup (electric or otherwise) has sold more than 5,000 units in the Lightning in Q3. Rivian R1T and Chevrolet Silverado EV are still niche with fewer production batches.
This demonstrates that although the sales of Tesla may appear insufficient regarding the expectations of Musk, the entire market of EV pickups is still emerging. However, a few thousand sales per quarter can win the first rank at the moment.
