Cybertruck was the 5th bestselling EV in 2024

[PATEL]

Tesla Cybertruck was a Top 5 EV in the U.S., outpacing the Ford F-150 Lightning by 5.5k units.

Sponsored

 

[YDR37]

Unlike most manufacturers. Tesla doesn't release specific sales figures for the Cybertruck (or any of their other models). So Cox Automotive's numbers for Tesla vehicles (above) are only estimates. However, estimates for Tesla sales can vary widely. For example, compare the following recent estimates for 2024 Cybertruck sales in the US:

38,965 Cox Automotive (cited above)
30,833 Troy Teslike (independent analyst/Tesla nerd)
24,300 Car and Driver (gets data from Automotive News)

Since Car and Driver has a lower estimate for CT sales, they only rank the CT as the #10 selling EV, behind the F-150 Lightning at #5.

Personally I would take Troy's numbers. He has been critical of Cox's estimates because he thinks they are counting production, rather than sales. Troy thinks that Tesla has been producing CTs at a faster rate than they are actually being sold (which implies that CTs could be piling up in Tesla inventory).

 

[tingmo13]

what happens when Tesla begins selling mid size Cybertruck? Tesla should-look @ Escalade EV
• Weight: 9,300 lbs (with no passengers)
217Kwh usable battery

 

[HaulingAss]

Unlike most manufacturers. Tesla doesn't release specific sales figures for the Cybertruck (or any of their other models). So Cox Automotive's numbers for Tesla vehicles (above) are only estimates. However, estimates for Tesla sales can vary widely. For example, compare the following recent estimates for 2024 Cybertruck sales in the US:

38,965 Cox Automotive (cited above)
30,833 Troy Teslike (independent analyst/Tesla nerd)
24,300 Car and Driver (gets data from Automotive News)

Since Car and Driver has a lower estimate for CT sales, they only rank the CT as the #10 selling EV, behind the F-150 Lightning at #5.

Personally I would take Troy's numbers. He has been critical of Cox's estimates because he thinks they are counting production, rather than sales. Troy thinks that Tesla has been producing CTs at a faster rate than they are actually being sold (which implies that CTs could be piling up in Tesla inventory).

Funny stuff. Maybe you are not aware that legacy auto reports their trucks as sold as soon as they hit dealership lots. But we know there are tens of thousands of them sitting unsold all over the country, yet they are still considered "sold" (because the dealership "bought" them). This type of channel stuffing is not illegal but that doesn't make them "sold".

Tesla doesn't count a vehicle sold until the end user accepts delivery. Legacy auto dealerships do not take unconditional possession of vehicles from the manufacturer, the manufacturer is still on the hook for further discounting if the dealership can't move them (it's in the contracts). And that is what is happening right now.

I don't like false narratives, and, in light of the above facts, it looks like you are pushing what is essentially a false narrative. Because no one cares how many are sitting on dealership lots, they care how many customers actually bought them.

In other words, the numbers reported by Ford and GM include unsold inventory sitting on dealership lots. How meaningful is that and why do you want to hold Tesla to a different standard?

The Cybertruck easily takes the crown of being the 5th best-selling EV in the U.S. and the #1 best-selling EV pickup truck.

 

[getsometom]

Funny stuff. Maybe you are not aware that legacy auto reports their trucks as sold as soon as they hit dealership lots. But we know there are tens of thousands of them sitting unsold all over the country, yet they are still considered "sold" (because the dealership "bought" them). This type of channel stuffing is not illegal but that doesn't make them "sold".

Tesla doesn't count a vehicle sold until the end user accepts delivery. The dealerships do not take unconditional possession of vehicles from the manufacturer, the manufacturer is still on the hook for further discounting if the dealership can't move them (it's in the contracts). And that is what is happening right now.

I don't like false narratives, and, in light of the above facts, it looks like you are pushing what is essentially a false narrative. Because no one cares how many are sitting on dealership lots, they care how many customers actually bought them.

In other words, the numbers reported by Ford and GM include unsold inventory sitting on dealership lots. How meaningful is that and why do you want to hold Tesla to a different standard?

This is a great point. Without the stealership model, sales and delivery numbers of Teslas are a direct 1:1 manufacture to end-customer ratio.

 

[YDR37]

Funny stuff. Maybe you are not aware that legacy auto reports their trucks as sold as soon as they hit dealership lots. ... In other words, the numbers reported by Ford and GM include unsold inventory sitting on dealership lots. How meaningful is that and why do you want to hold Tesla to a different standard?

Without the stealership model, sales and delivery numbers of Teslas are a direct 1:1 manufacture to end-customer ratio.

Legacy auto companies, like Ford and GM, have both wholesale (to dealers) and retail (to customer) sales. These are the retail numbers. Tesla is not being held to a different standard.

For example, Ford's numbers are here. The word "retail" is in big bold letters in the headline.

 

[SCTesla]

Legacy auto companies, like Ford and GM, have both wholesale (to dealers) and retail (to customer) sales. These are the retail numbers. Tesla is not being held to a different standard.

I really doubt this is accurate.

 

[HaulingAss]

This is a great point. Without the stealership model, sales and delivery numbers of Teslas are a direct 1:1 manufacture to end-customer ratio.

Tesla is very clear on this point in their filings. Even if the buyer has already transferred the money to Tesla, Tesla still won't count the sale until the paperwork is signed and finalized.

 

[YDR37]

I really doubt this is accurate.

You can see the numbers directly from Ford right here. The word "retail" is in big bold letters in the headline. What is not accurate?

So that is where the F-150 Lightning number of 33,510 sales for 2024 comes from. It is a retail number. And it should be considered more reliable than Tesla's number for Cybertruck sales -- because Tesla won't provide one.

The 33,510 Lightings sold in 2024 is roughly comparable to the number of CT sold, but could be more or less, depending on whose estimate you use:

- Less than 38,965 Cybertrucks (Cox's estimate)
- More than 30,833 Cybertrucks (Troy Teslike's estimate)
- More than 24,300 Cybertrucks (Car and Driver's estimate).

Either way, neither the Lightning nor the Cybertruck is making much of a dent in the huge US pickup market. That's the biggest takeaway.

 

[SCTesla]

You can see Ford's numbers here. The word "retail" is in big bold letters in the headline.

Again, I think you're making a leap that isn't accurate.

Ford claims that 52% of their sales are wholesale (and growing). That would mean that they sold over 60k F150L (extrapolating).

The headline is that Retail sales grew, yes, but the numbers are mostly perceived as total sales. The production numbers don't support 4+ million in sales. Other global decks support that those sales numbers at the bottom are total sales. That's how almost all analyst read their report as well.

 

[dalton108]

Tesla Cybertruck was a Top 5 EV in the U.S., outpacing the Ford F-150 Lightning by 5.5k units.

I know this opinion apparently isn’t shared by many here, but I love how low volume the Model X and Model S are.

The fewer 2023 Model S Plaids that exist, as far as I’m concerned, the better. I feel exactly the same way about the 2024 FS Cyberbeast!

Mass appeal is just not what I’m looking for in a my car. The only Toyota I’ve ever owned is one of the lowest volume cars they’ve ever made (relatively speaking) - FJ Cruiser.

 

[YDR37]

Again, I think you're making a leap that isn't accurate. .. That's how almost all analyst read their report as well.

The Cox Automotive report shows 33,510 Lightning sales -- the exact same retail number reported by Ford. If you trust their Cybertruck sales number, then you should trust their Lightning number as well.

Car and Driver shows 33,510 Lightning sales as well. Seems like these analysts are reading Ford's report exactly like I am.

 

[SCTesla]

The Cox Automotive report shows 33,510 Lightning sales -- the exact same retail number reported by Ford. If you trust their Cybertruck sales number, then you should trust their Lightning number as well.

Car and Driver shows 33,510 Lightning sales as well. Seems like these analysts are reading Ford's report exactly like I am.

They are saying that's the total sales of the F150L, not just retail (which is when a customer orders directly or custom orders).

Those sales numbers are total sales, including wholesale, same with the production numbers. That's what everyone else (including Cox) is reporting.

 

[HaulingAss]

Legacy auto companies, like Ford and GM, have both wholesale (to dealers) and retail (to customer) sales. These are the retail numbers. Tesla is not being held to a different standard.

Apologies, I didn't check which numbers were being used. The retail sales numbers are subject to errors, just like the Tesla retail sales numbers. We rely on auto industry players like Cox for both. My personal opinion is the low numbers being reported by some outfits for Tesla sales are artificially low because they use Tesla's official combined sales numbers for S,X and "other", and assume the S&X has been selling well. But what really happened is that Cybertruck nerfed sales of S&X because a lot of high-end buyers just want the latest and greatest so they can stand out.

In time registration data will probably tell the real story, unless it really is too close to call. I think when the smoke clears it will be clear that the Cybertruck outsold the Lightning.

Ford cut planned 2024 production of the Lightning in half (near the beginning of 2024 production), and then they still had to halt production lines from November to at least now, due to excessive inventory. Let's see when they start Lighting production lines running again.

Ford also had to lower the dealer invoice pricing retroactively so dealers could sell them at an even bigger loss to Ford. That's on Lightnings that Ford had already sold to dealers.

When you think about it, it's pretty silly to compare sales numbers of a truck that is being sold at artificially low prices and huge losses (tens of thousands of dollars per truck sold). I mean, the Lighting could be #1 in sales forever if Ford was willing to drop prices $20K more!

 

[SCTesla]

In time registration data will probably tell the real story, unless it really is too close to call. I think when the smoke clears it will be clear that the Cybertruck outsold the Lightning.

Troy used registrations of the S/X/ and CT to get his number and they are 7k lower than Cox.

He was also like dead on when the recall came out and showed production numbers.

Sponsored