Tesla’s electric vehicle sales increased substantially in the third quarter of 2025, driven by customers purchasing before a federal tax credit expired. In contrast, sales for the company’s Cybertruck model declined sharply during the same period.
In the third quarter, Tesla sold 5,385 Cybertrucks, a 63 percent decrease compared to the more than 14,000 units delivered in the equivalent quarter of 2024. Year-to-date sales for 2025 have reached just over 16,000 vehicles. This figure is substantially lower than an earlier prediction from Elon Musk for 250,000 annual sales. The company now anticipates delivering approximately 20,000 Cybertrucks in 2025, a significant reduction from the estimated 50,000 sold in 2024.
The sales data was published by Kelley Blue Book and reported by Business Insider. Tesla does not report Cybertruck sales figures independently, instead including them with the Model S and Model X under the category of “other models.” The third quarter saw a broader surge in the EV market, with 438,487 total units sold. This represented a 40.7 percent increase from the previous quarter and a 29.6 percent rise year-over-year. The sales boom was linked to the September 30 expiration of a $7,500 federal tax credit.
The Cybertruck’s sales performance contrasted with that of other electric trucks in the market. During the same quarter, year-over-year sales for the Rivian R1T rose by 13 percent, while the Ford F-150 Lightning saw an increase of 39.7 percent. GMC experienced growth for its electric truck lineup, with Hummer EV sales up 21.9 percent and Sierra EV sales increasing by over 771 percent.
In addition to the sales figures, a lawsuit has been filed against Tesla by the families of two people who died in a fiery Cybertruck crash. The legal action alleges that faulty door handles impeded the occupants’ ability to escape the vehicle. To address the low sales volume, unsold Cybertrucks are being delivered to other companies led by Elon Musk.
