Tesla’s Cybertruck risks repeating Ford’s Edsel flop as sales miss the mark

Tesla’s angular Cybertruck is drawing comparisons to Ford’s Edsel after failing to meet lofty sales expectations since deliveries began in 2023. U.S. registrations for the Cybertruck totaled 7,133 through May 2026, according to S&P Global Mobility data provided to Bloomberg News. The truck’s high price, production bottlenecks, recalls, and CEO Elon Musk’s polarizing politics have weighed heavily on demand. Analysts suggest Tesla may attempt a redesign or introduce a variant to revive interest, but the Cybertruck is unlikely to be discontinued within the next one to two years. Ford’s Edsel, launched in 1957, was pitched as a revolutionary car with an oval-shaped front grille and advanced features like a rotating dome speedometer and a “Teletouch” push-button transmission. Ford predicted it would sell 200,000 units in its first year, but actual sales fell short of one-third of that target. The Edsel’s unconventional design became a cultural punchline, and Ford discontinued the model in 1959 after annual sales declines. Tesla’s Cybertruck, unveiled in 2019 with a Blade Runner-inspired presentation, was marketed as a rugged, futuristic pickup with a starting price of $39,900. However, by the time deliveries began years behind schedule, the base price had surged to over $100,000. Initial reviews were mixed, with critics calling the design “wacky” and polarizing. The Cybertruck’s stainless-steel body proved difficult to manufacture, leading to production challenges and recalls. The truck has also faced lawsuits over issues like doors failing to open after crashes. Musk’s political activism has further complicated the Cybertruck’s market reception. Analyst Garrett Nelson of CFRA Research believes Tesla is unlikely to announce the Cybertruck’s discontinuation in the near term, though he suggests any redesign or variant would likely be a futile effort. The Cybertruck’s struggles echo other infamous automotive flops, such as the DeLorean DMC-12, which sold roughly 9,000 units due to quality issues and a price tag more than double the average new car, and the Pontiac Aztek, whose plastic-clad body and poor sales led to its discontinuation in 2005. Tesla did not respond to a request for comment.