What Transpired with Musk's 1 Million Cybertruck Reservations? | Carscoops

      Reservations haven't translated into confirmed orders, and the Cybertruck's conversion rate has been low—meanwhile, Elon Musk is fully committed to his robot hype.

      Despite the extensive media coverage and initial interest, Cybertruck sales have diminished.

      In January, Tesla allegedly reassigned employees from the Cybertruck production line to work on the Model Y.

      Meanwhile, Musk is promoting the Optimus robot, claiming he plans to produce millions annually.

      There are three key points to reiterate: First, Tesla is not a typical car manufacturer. Second, the Cybertruck is far from your standard truck. Third, Elon Musk is certainly not a conventional CEO; he is outspoken and ensures his voice is heard clearly.

      Tesla’s narrative of success and its impact on the automotive industry has been told extensively, so we won't dwell on it. However, the Cybertruck warrants discussion given its status as a relatively new product and its hype as the ultimate truck, whether electric or otherwise. But did it live up to that expectation?

      When it comes to publicity, the answer is undoubtedly “yes.” Rarely does a day pass without multiple stories featuring Tesla’s uniquely designed pickup truck—whether it's contentious comments about its aesthetics, a viral video of its frame breaking during a YouTuber's test, or an incident involving a terrorist using one to carry an explosive device near a Trump Hotel, among other events.

      Yet, let’s rewind to October 2023, just a month prior to the Cybertruck’s release. Musk declared that Tesla had already accumulated “over 1 million reservations” for the unusual truck, describing demand as “off the charts.” Of course, reservations were made with a refundable deposit of $100 (later increased to $250), but that detail is relatively minor.

      Understandably, no one anticipated that all those reservations would convert to actual sales, not even Musk. Stephanie Valdez Streaty, director of industry insights at Cox Automotive, commented to Wired that the automotive sector typically aims for a conversion rate between 2 to 16 percent. Tesla recently revealed that it delivered 46,096 Cybertrucks from November 13, 2023, to February 27, 2025, resulting in a conversion rate of under 5 percent. While this falls within the expected range, it isn't exactly encouraging news for Musk or Tesla enthusiasts.

      While few would accuse the world’s richest man of giving misleading information (except perhaps the “crooked” SEC), 46,000 sales don't support the claim that demand is “off the charts.” Initially, it seemed to be the must-have item for those in the know, and during the first half of 2024, the Cybertruck was the best-selling vehicle in the high-priced car segment. However, compared to the sub-$100k market—which most automakers, aside from luxury brands like Ferrari, Bentley, Aston Martin, or Lamborghini, depend on—this is quite an exclusive club, wouldn’t you agree?

      In early January, Business Insider reported that, as per its sources, declining sales prompted Tesla to shift some employees at its Austin facility from the Cybertruck line to the Model Y production. The company informed its workforce in a survey regarding reassignment, stating, “As we continue to evaluate schedules to meet business requirements, changes will be made to Model Y and Cyber schedules, and we want to consider your preferences.”

      Some employees noted that such changes are atypical, usually reserved for new vehicles. However, it’s possible that Tesla views the Model Y Juniper as a new model, justifying the shift. After all, the Model Y is a key product for Tesla—extremely successful, at least until last year when sales took a significant downturn. This decline was expected, as many anticipated the updated Juniper's arrival, likely leading potential buyers to postpone their purchases of the “old” model.

      Putting aside Tesla and its sales, let’s focus on robots instead.

      As anticipated, the most exciting news often comes not from the company or its products but from its outspoken leader, who readily shares his opinions. Forget about the Cybertruck's performance or Tesla’s slipping sales; at a staff meeting on March 20, Musk shifted focus to a different product: Optimus.

      “This year, we hope to manufacture around 5,000 Optimus robots,” he announced. “That's equivalent to a Roman legion. Just think about it—a whole legion of robots. That’s something!” He then raised that target to “probably around 50,000 [Optimus robots] next year” (10 legions) and later revised it to “maybe 100 million robots annually.”

      Veni, Vidi, Vici – So, what’s next?

      I’m not inclined to do the calculations, nor do I know if Musk’s assertions will hold true (his track record isn't flawless), and I don't claim expertise in history. I’m not a gambler either—but I’d wager that even Julius Caesar didn’t command that many legions