Tech • AI • Robotics • Game
The REAL Reason Tesla Just CANCELLED Their Cybertruck
9.3/10TL;DR
Tesla is shrinking the Cyber Cab battery to 40 kWh, winding down Cybertruck production in mid-2027 to free capacity, while Terafab and SpaceX pursue aggressive expansion plans in chips and reusable launch systems.
KEY POINTS
Cyber Cab gets a smaller battery
Elon Musk said the next Cyber Cab Gen 2 will use a 40 kWh pack, down from 47.6 kWh, a cut of about 16%. Because the current vehicle already delivers about 6.18 miles per kWh, the reduced pack would likely make the two-seat robotaxi even lighter and more efficient while stretching battery-cell supply further.
Designed around efficiency and longevity
The Cyber Cab weighs about 3,113 pounds, several hundred pounds less than a Model 3, and uses a shorter 11:1 gear ratio because urban robotaxis do not need high top speeds. Its battery uses 4680 cells in a steel enclosure, with individually sealed modules that can be replaced separately, supporting a stated service life of at least 500,000 miles.
More cars from the same cells
A battery pack that is 16% smaller means the same cell supply could produce roughly 19% more Cyber Cabs. That matters as Tesla expands paid robotaxi service in Austin, where the operating area has grown to about 440 square miles and 573 vehicles were registered in Texas as of late October. Dallas service is expected to follow this month, with first customer deliveries targeted by the end of 2026.
A new look for Gen 2
Musk said the updated model will arrive in liquid silver, adding variety to a fleet that is currently largely gold. A silver version had already appeared in a Terafab concept render released in August, hinting that the color change had been under consideration for months.
Cybertruck production to end at Giga Texas
Tesla plans to wind down Cybertruck production at Gigafactory Texas around the middle of 2027, with the line expected to be dismantled in June or July. The company is reallocating engineers, factory space and supply-chain capacity toward the Cyber Cab, which it sees as the higher-impact product for urban transport.
Strong backlog, but not enough time
Musk said Cybertruck demand still exceeds what can be built before the line closes, and Tesla plans to add an extra shift to fill as many orders as possible. Even so, some reservation holders are expected to receive refunds. After recent price increases, the Cyber Beast is the only remaining trim open for order at about $110,000, with deliveries estimated between March and June 2027.
A polarizing vehicle that still led its segment
First shown in 2019 with a promised sub-$40,000 entry price, the truck reached market in 2023 at far higher prices, with early versions near $120,000. Cox Automotive estimated U.S. sales at about 39,000 in 2024, around 20,000 last year and fewer than 12,000 so far this year. Despite missing the factory’s planned annual pace of more than 125,000 units, it remains the best-selling electric pickup in the U.S.
Terafab sets a massive chip target
The planned Terafab complex in Grimes County, Texas is aiming for 1 million silicon wafers per month starting in 2032, including 700,000 for memory and more than 300,000 for logic. That memory volume alone is roughly comparable to Samsung’s full DRAM output. The site is planned at about 100 million square feet, or roughly 3.6 square miles, with dedicated natural-gas power plants and large battery storage.
High costs and local resistance
Equipment orders are reportedly already being placed, with some suppliers asked to deliver within months. The project is expected to require tens of billions of dollars in equipment through early 2028 and more than $100 billion over the long term. More than 100 local residents raised concerns about water, power and rural character before county officials approved tax incentives.
SpaceX targets a double catch with Starship
SpaceX is preparing Flight 15 of Starship as early as Friday, November 13, pending regulatory approval, with backup opportunities through November 19. Booster 22 and Ship 42 are assigned to the mission, and the goal is to catch both stages with the launch tower arms. SpaceX has previously recovered a Super Heavy booster this way, but not a Starship upper stage, making this a key test of full rocket reusability.
CONCLUSION
Tesla and SpaceX are concentrating resources on scale: more robotaxis from fewer battery cells, a giant semiconductor push in Texas, and faster rocket reuse. The common objective is industrial capacity large enough to support autonomous transport, chip production and frequent spaceflight.
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