The Cybertruck might not have to die after all, at least if Unplugged Performance gets its way. The Tesla tuning company posted an open offer on X to take over Cybertruck production so Tesla can focus on the Cybercab.
“An open offer to Tesla: We fully support putting Cybercab first, and we’d be glad to take the Cybertruck line off your hands,” the company wrote.
The Pitch
Unplugged Performance says it would fund the Cybertruck line through a group of investors and run it without using any of Tesla’s floor space, staff, or attention. It would even let Cybercab have first dibs on battery cells. “We’ll wait our turn,” the company said.
In return, Tesla would get a license fee plus FSD and Robotaxi revenue from every vehicle built. UP also wants to build more than just the pickup, including a three-row CyberSUV and a driverless CyberCargo hauler.
The company admits it couldn’t do this alone, or overnight. It’s gathering investors, recruiting manufacturing talent, and looking for a location near Giga Texas. Production would need to restart, likely at lower volume and higher cost per truck. “A reset is hard, premature death is harder. We choose reset,” Unplugged wrote. Interested investors and partners can email cyber@unpluggedperformance.com, though the company says it isn’t accepting money or commitments just yet, not without an actual discussion with Tesla.
Founded in 2013 and based in Hawthorne, California, Unplugged Performance is the best-known aftermarket tuner for Tesla vehicles. It designs and makes its own performance parts for every Tesla model, including the Cybertruck. Building an entire vehicle would be a big jump from making body kits and wheels.
A Busy Week for the Cybertruck
The offer comes after a busy week of Cybertruck news. Tesla first announced it would end Cybertruck production in mid-2027 to make room for more Cybercabs. It then raised prices and paused Dual Motor AWD orders, followed by ending Premium AWD orders and raising the Cyberbeast’s price to $109,990. At the time of writing, you can only order the top-spec Cyberbeast.
Musk said the Cybertruck is still profitable but that Tesla’s engineers and factory space are worth more for the Cybercab. He also said demand is so high that Tesla will have to refund deposits for a lot of people, even after adding an extra production shift. After pushback from fans, Tesla is now extending Cybertruck production through summer 2027.
Tesla hasn’t responded to Unplugged’s offer, and it would face real challenges, from getting enough battery cells to meeting Tesla’s standards for a manufacturer. Still, with a long backlog of orders that Tesla says it can’t fill, Unplugged’s pitch is one possible way to keep the Cybertruck going after Tesla’s line shuts down.
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