Cybertruck Cancelled: Tesla Halts Australia, NZ Launch

Nearly seven years of deposits have ended in cancellation. On October 23, 2026, Tesla notified reservation holders in Australia and New Zealand that the Cybertruck program for those countries has been called off. The company began taking A$150 deposits for the electric pickup in November 2019, but will no longer build the truck for these markets.

Tesla delivered the news via email, stating, "After careful consideration, plans to produce Cybertruck for Australia and New Zealand have been discontinued." The message confirmed that orders are void and all payments will be refunded within 30 days. To encourage customers to stay with the brand, Tesla is offering a complimentary one-year subscription to FSD (Supervised) for those who place an order for a Model 3 or Model Y instead.

Australia was historically a significant market for the company, ranking third in the world for reservations behind the United States and Canada in 2020. Tesla quietly removed the Australian reservation page in May 2022, replacing it with an update button, yet no refunds were issued at that time. Customers continued to hold their deposits for years, even as Elon Musk told shareholders in 2024 that certification for other markets might happen "sometime next year." That timeline passed without a vehicle delivery.

The primary obstacle remains the vehicle's configuration. The Cybertruck is manufactured exclusively in left-hand drive, while Australia and New Zealand require right-hand drive models. Furthermore, entering the Australian market requires certification under specific national design rules. Tesla has faced a similar barrier in the European Union, where the truck remains blocked, primarily due to pedestrian safety regulations.

Production economics also weigh against the investment. Tesla's recent international launches, including deliveries in South Korea and the United Arab Emirates, have focused strictly on left-hand-drive regions. The company reported 8,295 units in its "Other Models" category for the third quarter of 2026, a group now comprised almost entirely of Cybertruck inventory since Model S and Model X production concluded.

Sales volume does not justify the cost of re-engineering the truck for right-hand-drive production. The current output estimates place production at roughly 7,000 to 8,000 units for the quarter, which projects to an annual rate of 30,000 units. This figure is far below the production line's designed capacity of 250,000 units annually.

The cancellation reflects a broader shift in the vehicle's market position. The Cybertruck that eventually reached consumers differs significantly from the version reserved in 2019, featuring a higher price and less range than originally promised. As a result, the company is now prioritizing the sale of its Model 3 and Model Y vehicles, which are built in the right-hand-drive configurations required by these markets.