Despite the gaffe, the Cybertruck ended up receiving a 146,000 orders, Musk said in 2019, while it was still in development.

In the end, the vehicle launched in 2023, keeping its novel design – an angular shape with a body made of stainless steel.

In 2025, Tesla sold just 20,237 Cybertrucks, a decline from 38,965 a year earlier, according to figures from Kelley Blue Book.

Musk had predicted annual sales of 250,000 after commercial production of Cybertruck began in 2023.

Tesla fans praised its retro-futuristic look, which some said looked like something “straight out of Blade Runner, external“.

But critics were far less kind, joking about its appearance and labelling it “ugly as sin, external“.

Several recalls – including in 2025 affecting more than 46,000 Cybertrucks over concerns part of its trim could fall off – would not have helped.

And then there’s the price.

“We need to make it at a price that people can afford,” Musk told Wall Street analysts that year – which ended up being $61,000 (then £48,000) for all the “bells and whistles”.

In 2026, the so-called “Cyberbeast” model comes in at $102,000.