Once expected to be a symbol of the future of electric vehicles, Tesla Cybertruck is now becoming a difficult problem for the American car company. According to sources, sales of this model have fallen sharply compared to expectations, forcing Elon Musk to find a way to “rescue” from within.

SpaceX and artificial intelligence company xAI, both run by Musk, have bought hundreds of Cybertrucks in recent weeks, Electrek reports. The official reason given is to replace the current fleet of gasoline-powered vehicles with electric vehicles, in line with emissions reduction goals, but analysts say it could be an effort to reduce inventory and improve Tesla’s dismal sales figures.

Thousands of cars unsold at Austin factory

When it launched, Tesla aimed to sell 300,000 Cybertrucks a year. In fact, the company sold only about 5,000 in the first quarter of 2025. US media reported that thousands of unsold Cybertrucks were piling up at its Austin, Texas, factory, despite the company’s continued price cuts.

Elon Musk was accused of using xAI and SpaceX money to buy Cybertruck himself because of unsold products - Photo 1.

The vehicles acquired by SpaceX and xAI are now being transported to locations like the Starbase launch site in Boca Chica, the Starlink factory in Bastrop, and several other xAI facilities. The NASASpaceflight YouTube channel has captured footage of several Cybertrucks being delivered to Starbase in recent days. Another video suggests they could be used to replace older government vehicles or be redistributed to employees.

Temporary solution or bookkeeping trick?

The move to buy back unsold vehicles using “in-house” companies has divided opinion. Supporters see it as a practical step to accelerate the electrification of Musk’s fleet, while skeptics see it as a way to “beautify” revenue figures and avoid Tesla facing pressure from shareholders and the market.

Elon Musk was accused of using xAI and SpaceX money to buy Cybertruck himself because of unsold products - Photo 2.
In the short term, SpaceX and xAI’s “rescue” of the Cybertruck helps Tesla temporarily reduce its inventory burden and maintain production. However, the big question remains: will this measure help Elon Musk’s electric car company turn things around in the long term, or is it just a way to prolong a product that is losing its appeal?