Musk's Companies Mask Cybertruck Demand Crisis With Internal Purchases

Key Details SpaceX and other Elon Musk-controlled companies have artificially inflated Tesla Cybertruck sales figures by purchasing nearly one in five units registered during Q4. SpaceX alone bought 1,279 Cybertrucks (18% of 7,071 total registrations), while xAI, Boring Co., and Neuralink added another 60 vehicles, representing over $100 million in purchases that continued into 2025. Why It Matters Without these internal company purchases, Q4 Cybertruck registrations would have dropped 51%, exposing weak consumer demand. Industry analyst Sam Fiorani of AutoForecast Solutions stated plainly: 'Tesla is running out of buyers for the Cybertruck.' This arrangement highlights a troubling trend two years after the vehicle's launch. The Bigger Picture Tesla faces mounting pressure after losing its position as the world's top EV seller to China's BYD last year. The company is also threatened with a third consecutive annual sales decline. While investors have tolerated weak auto sales as Musk pivots toward robotaxis and humanoid robots, patience is thinning - Tesla stock has lost 20% of its value since mid-December. The Cybertruck, once positioned as Tesla's gateway into the lucrative pickup market, now appears to be struggling to attract mainstream buyers despite its high-profile debut.