Cybertruck Failure Underscores Tesla's Post-Straubel Struggles

Tesla’s Cybertruck has become an expensive failure, producing only 70,000 units over three years despite tooling capacity for 125,000 annually and initial targets of 250,000 per year. The vehicle underperformed on every key specification: roughly double the intended price, half the promised range, and a net loss of approximately $2 billion on the project.

The article notes a striking timeline correlation. JB Straubel stepped down as CTO in July 2019, just months after the Model Y’s March 2019 unveiling. Before his departure, Tesla delivered a succession of transformative products—the Model S, Model X, Model 3, and Model Y. Since then, only the Cybertruck and the newly arriving Cybercab have launched. The author speculates whether Straubel provided essential practical guidance that balanced Elon Musk’s more ambitious product visions, but the true extent of his influence remains unknown. What is clear: the company’s track record for successful new products shifted noticeably after he left.