Elon Musk said early Monday that Tesla will have to return deposits to many buyers waiting for a Cybertruck, because orders far exceed what Gigafactory Texas can build before the line shuts down in about eight months. He also rejected reports that the truck loses money, and said the wind-down is about the value of building more Cybercabs instead.

Musk posted at 2:20 a.m. Eastern on November 9, quoting Tesla commentator James Douma, whose advice to buyers the day before was “Get it while you can.” Musk announced the wind-down on November 6, as EVXL reported that day. On November 7 he said Tesla would add a shift to try to finish every order before the line comes out in June or July 2027. Monday’s post says it won’t get to all of them, without saying how many buyers get their money back or how Tesla picks them.

Tesla Publishes No Cybertruck Margin to Settle Musk’s Profit Claim

Musk wrote that the decision is “not a case of Cybertruck being unprofitable, as has been misreported by legacy media.” Tesla reports one automotive gross margin for all its vehicles, so neither his claim nor the reports he rejects can be checked against a Tesla filing.

He did not name the outlets. Electrek editor-in-chief Fred Lambert wrote on November 6 that he wouldn’t be surprised if Tesla lost “a couple of billions” on the program, an opinion he built on R&D and tooling spent against roughly 70,000 trucks delivered.

Tesla’s Other Models Line Delivered More Than It Built in Q3

Tesla does not report Cybertruck orders or deliveries separately. Its Q3 update puts the truck in an “Other models” line that built 7,004 and delivered 8,295 in the quarter. More left the lot than came off the line, which is consistent with Musk’s account. The category also holds other vehicles.

The same update lists Cybertruck installed capacity at more than 125,000 a year, with a note that installed capacity is not the current production rate. Musk’s November 7 post about adding a shift suggests the line has been running well below that figure. Cox Automotive estimates 4,323 US Cybertruck sales in the third quarter and 11,586 through September, down 28% on the year.

One earlier data point also fits Musk’s account. During the roughly 10-day $59,990 offer in February, estimated delivery for new orders slipped into 2027, as EVXL reported on March 1.

Musk’s Refund Promise Does Not Say Whether the Order Fee Comes Back

Musk wrote “deposits,” but Tesla orders carry an order fee that Tesla made non-refundable in 2019 and set at $250 in 2021, Electrek reported at the time. His post does not say whether buyers whose trucks Tesla will not build get that fee back.

Tesla also raised prices on November 6. The Premium AWD went from $84,990 to $92,490 and the Cyberbeast from $99,990 to $102,490, Electrek and Not a Tesla App reported from the configurator, and the Dual Motor AWD was grayed out at $82,490. After a $5,000 increase in August, the cheapest Cybertruck a buyer could order went from $69,990 to $92,490 in under three months. In my view the increase is consistent with demand running ahead of supply. Electrek reads it as Tesla taking more margin on the last build slots.

In October, Tesla cancelled outstanding Australian and New Zealand Cybertruck reservations and said it would refund them in full, as EVXL reported. Those reservations, which took A$150 deposits in Australia, were already refundable under their terms.

EVXL’s Take

Musk’s refund promise is the right call, and Tesla should finish the job by making it specific. The company holds the order count and sets the production plan, so it can tell each buyer now whether their truck is coming, instead of leaving them to find out from an email later. The refund should include the order fee. Tesla is cancelling these orders, and keeping the fee from someone it chose not to build a truck for would turn a fair decision into a small grab. And if the configurator is still open for the Premium and Cyberbeast, anyone ordering after Musk’s November 9 post has been told in public that their truck may never be built. Tesla should either close it or say plainly which new orders it can still fill.

Sources: Elon Musk on X, Elon Musk on X, November 7, Tesla Q3 2026 Update, Cox Automotive, Electrek, Not a Tesla App.

EVXL uses automated tools to support research and source retrieval. All reporting and editorial perspectives are by Haye Kesteloo.