Tesla Ends Cybertruck Ambitions: Australia and New Zealand Deposits Refunded
After nearly seven years of waiting, Tesla has voided all Cybertruck reservations in the region, refunding deposits and offering incentives to switch to Model 3 or Model Y vehicles.
By Mei Lin ·
Tesla has officially withdrawn the Cybertruck from the Australian and New Zealand markets, ending a seven-year wait for electric pickup enthusiasts in the region. Customers who placed reservations are receiving emails today confirming that their orders are void and that their deposits will be fully refunded. This decision marks a definitive end to the automaker's initial promise to bring the stainless steel truck to these right-hand drive markets.
The cancellation comes just one day after Tesla released its third-quarter 2026 earnings report. The company notified reservation holders that plans to produce the Cybertruck for the region have been discontinued. The email, which has been widely shared on social media platforms and Reddit, states that the company is unable to fulfill the reservations. Tesla has promised that all refunds will be processed within 30 days of the notification.
To soften the blow, Tesla is offering a strategic incentive for customers who wish to switch vehicles. Reservation holders who order a new Model 3 or Model Y will receive a free one-year subscription to Full Self-Driving (Supervised). This move appears designed to convert lapsed Cybertruck interest into sales of vehicles that Tesla already manufactures in right-hand drive configurations for the region.
Background on the wait reveals a long history of uncertainty. Australian customers began placing deposits of A$150 in November 2019. For nearly four years, from 2022 to 2026, the reservation page was quietly closed and replaced with a simple option to get updates, leaving many customers in limbo without a formal refund or a clear timeline. In 2024, Tesla shipped a Cybertruck to Australia for a display tour, and CEO Elon Musk suggested to shareholders that certification for other markets might happen the following year. That year passed without a right-hand drive version appearing.
The core technical obstacle has been the vehicle's design. The Cybertruck is built exclusively in left-hand drive. Australia and New Zealand require right-hand drive vehicles, which would necessitate significant re-engineering and certification under local design rules. This is a costly undertaking for a truck that is currently facing softening demand even in its primary North American market.
Market data supports the decision to cut losses. Tesla delivered only 8,295 units categorized as Other Models in the third quarter of 2026. Since production of the Model S and Model X has ended, this category now represents almost entirely Cybertruck sales. Estimates suggest Cybertruck sales are running at a pace of roughly 30,000 units per year, far below the production line's capacity of 250,000 units annually. At this volume, the financial justification for re-engineering the truck for two markets with a combined population of about 33 million is weak.
Reactions to the news have been mixed but largely unsurprised. Many in the automotive community note that the Cybertruck has become a niche, primarily American product. While some reservation holders may have already canceled their pre-orders, the official closure provides clarity. The current version of the truck is more expensive and has less range than the original 2019 promises, making a premium import version less attractive to local buyers.
Tesla’s international strategy for the Cybertruck has so far focused exclusively on left-hand drive markets. Deliveries began in South Korea and the UAE, with configurators opening in several Middle Eastern countries. The vehicle remains blocked from the European Union due to pedestrian safety concerns. With the Australian and New Zealand markets now off the table, the focus shifts entirely to finding buyers for the existing left-hand drive inventory.
Next steps for affected customers are straightforward. They should monitor their email accounts for the official confirmation of cancellation. Those interested in the consolation offer should proceed to order a Model 3 or Model Y to secure the one-year FSD subscription. For those who simply want their money back, the 30-day processing window begins now, bringing closure to a nearly seven-year wait.
Source: Electrek
