Tesla slaps $10K discounts on Cybertruck as sales skid and inventory builds up

New York Post - Apr 17th, 2025

Tesla has significantly reduced production and increased discounts for its Cybertruck as sales lag and inventory increases. The electric vehicle company, led by Elon Musk, has lowered production targets across multiple Cybertruck assembly lines, with some running at minimal capacity. The move comes shortly after Tesla halted deliveries due to quality issues, with sources indicating a reduction in staffing levels and a shift of some workers to the Model Y production line. Despite Musk’s early predictions of selling 250,000 units annually, current sales are only a fraction of that target, with only about 25,000 units sold per year. Tesla has also begun offering substantial discounts, up to $10,000, to reduce its surplus inventory, but results have been modest, clearing only 100 vehicles recently.

The Cybertruck's underperformance highlights broader challenges facing Tesla, including intensified market competition and public protests related to Musk's governmental role. As of 2025, Tesla's overall vehicle deliveries have decreased by 13% compared to the prior year, impacting its stock value, which has dropped about 40% year-to-date. Despite these challenges, Musk remains optimistic about doubling Tesla's U.S. production in the next two years. The situation underscores the difficulties of scaling new products in a competitive and rapidly evolving market, with Tesla needing to adapt quickly to sustain its market position and investor confidence.

Elon Musk Tesla Electric Vehicles Cybertruck Inventory Management Production Reduction Market Competition

Story submitted by Fairstory

RATING

6.8

Fair Story

Consider it well-founded

The article provides a mostly accurate account of Tesla's challenges with the Cybertruck, supported by data on production cuts and sales issues. It effectively highlights key problems but lacks balance due to the absence of Tesla's perspective or broader industry insights. The source quality is moderate, relying on unnamed sources without direct attribution. Transparency is limited, with little explanation of data collection methods or source verification. Despite these shortcomings, the article is timely and of public interest, addressing a current issue in the electric vehicle market. Its clarity and readability are strong, although some technical details could be better explained. The potential for controversy is present but not fully explored. Overall, the article offers valuable insights into Tesla's current situation but could benefit from more balanced and transparent reporting.

Accuracy

The article presents several claims that align well with available data, such as Tesla's production scale-back and the introduction of significant discounts on the Cybertruck. The claim about Tesla reducing production targets is supported by reports of production adjustments and workforce reallocations. However, some details, like the exact number of vehicles cleared from inventory and the impact of public protests, lack direct confirmation. The claim about Tesla's share price fluctuations is plausible but requires more precise data. Overall, the story is mostly accurate but includes a few areas needing further verification.

Balance

The article primarily focuses on Tesla's challenges with the Cybertruck, emphasizing production cuts and sales issues. While it effectively highlights problems, it lacks perspectives from Tesla or industry analysts that might provide a more balanced view. The absence of comments from Tesla limits the representation of their side of the story. Additionally, the article could benefit from contrasting opinions or insights into how Tesla might address these challenges, providing a more comprehensive picture.

Clarity

The article is generally clear and well-structured, with a logical flow from the introduction of Tesla's production issues to the details of sales and inventory challenges. The language is straightforward, making the content accessible to a wide audience. However, some technical details, such as financial metrics or specific production figures, could be better explained to enhance comprehension for readers unfamiliar with the automotive industry.

Source quality

The article relies on unnamed sources and references to Business Insider without direct quotes or detailed attribution. This reliance on secondary sources can affect the perceived reliability of the information. The lack of direct statements from Tesla or other authoritative figures in the industry weakens the source quality. Including more diverse and authoritative sources, such as industry experts or financial analysts, could enhance the credibility of the reporting.

Transparency

The article does not provide much transparency regarding the sources of its information or the methodology used to gather the data. While it mentions seeking comment from Tesla, it does not disclose whether any response was received. The lack of detailed attribution or explanation of how information was obtained leaves readers without a clear understanding of the basis for the claims. Greater transparency about sources and data collection methods would improve the story's credibility.