This week, Tesla confirmed its fourth recall of the Cybertruck. In a statement submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Tesla noted that the Cybertruck's front windshield wipers may malfunction due to excessive current, affecting the driver's visibility through the front windshield.

Tesla disclosed that a total of 11,688 Cybertrucks will be recalled, reflecting early sales data for the model.

Production of the Cybertruck began in limited quantities in November last year, with 1,163 trucks delivered by December. In 2024, Tesla delivered a total of 10,525 Cybertrucks, averaging 1,754 trucks per month.

However, these figures significantly diverge from Elon Musk's promises at the shareholders' meeting. Musk previously stated a production rate record of 1,300 Cybertrucks per week (approximately 5,200 per month) and aimed to reach 2,500 per week (about 10,000 per month) by the end of 2024.

Moreover, Musk has emphasized multiple times that annual sales of the Cybertruck could reach 250,000 units, doubling the year-end production target and exceeding the actual delivery volume by nearly twelvefold.

Some believe Tesla's production goals for the Cybertruck may be grossly mismatched with reality. Assuming a production rate of 2,500 Cybertrucks per week, half of Tesla's Austin factory's current capacity (250,000 units) would be dedicated to Cybertruck production.

On the other hand, producing 2,500 Cybertrucks per week poses significant challenges not only to Tesla's production capacity but also to consumer market dynamics.

According to consultancy data, the best-selling electric pickup in the United States in the first quarter of 2023 was the Rivian R1T, with quarterly sales of 6,213 units, dropping to 3,261 units in the first quarter of this year. Another popular model is the Ford F-150 Lightning, which saw sales increase from 4,291 units in the first quarter of last year to 7,743 units this year, compared to Cybertruck's quarterly sales of 2,803 units.

Cox Automotive points out that despite Cybertruck's growing sales, surpassing Rivian in May, it still faces significant competitive pressure. The electric pickup market is still in its early competitive stages, and production capacity and consumer demand will ultimately determine market share winners.

Meanwhile, frequent recalls of the Cybertruck may raise doubts among consumers about purchasing this electric pickup. Musk himself has warned investors that the electric vehicle industry is in a transitional phase and may face certain difficulties in short-term demand and sales.

Tesla is set to announce its overall second-quarter delivery volume soon. Wall Street expects second-quarter deliveries to be around 441,000 units, higher than the first quarter's 386,800 units but lower than the 466,100 units from the same period last year.