Tesla’s Cybertruck has officially lost its grip on the electric pickup truck crown in the U.S., slipping to second place in Q1 2025 after a brief stint at the top. According to the latest data from S&P Global Mobility, Ford’s F-150 Lightning pulled ahead with 7,913 registrations, narrowly overtaking the Cybertruck’s 7,126. While Tesla doesn’t break down individual model sales, registration numbers provide the clearest picture of how its controversial stainless steel pickup is performing in the market.
This marks the second straight quarter of declining Cybertruck numbers. After peaking with 16,692 units in Q3 2024, Tesla’s only truck saw a dip to 12,991 in Q4, and now further down to just over 7,000 in the first three months of 2025. Some reports, like those from Cox Automotive, suggest the actual figure could be as low as 6,404.
Electric Pickup Market Faces Growing Pains
Despite all the hype surrounding the electric pickup segment, real-world demand continues to underwhelm. Even the category leader—the Ford F-150 Lightning—barely crossed the 7,000 mark in quarterly sales, a stark contrast to its gas-powered sibling, which consistently dominates U.S. truck sales.
Ford CEO Jim Farley has been candid about the challenges electric trucks face. “These customers have very demanding use cases,” he said during Ford’s Q4 2024 earnings call. “They tow, they go off-road, they take long road trips. These vehicles have worse aerodynamics and they’re very heavy, which means very large and expensive batteries.”
Indeed, the same factors that make electric trucks appealing—power, size, and utility—are also proving to be their biggest obstacles. Bigger trucks need bigger batteries, which drive up costs and lower efficiency. That equation is proving tough to solve, even for industry leaders.
Chevrolet and Rivian Also Lag Behind
Rounding out the top performers in Q1 were the Chevrolet Silverado EV and GMC Sierra EV, followed by the Rivian R1T and GMC Hummer EV. All posted modest numbers, indicating that consumer interest in this segment may be softer than initially anticipated.
Even Rivian, once seen as a rising star in the EV space, saw a year-over-year and quarter-over-quarter decline in deliveries. Ram, meanwhile, has delayed the release of its all-electric 1500 REV and the range-extended 1500 Ramcharger for the second time, further signaling caution in the market.
EV Market Grows—But Not All Segments Benefit
Interestingly, while electric pickups are struggling, the overall electric vehicle market in the U.S. continues to grow. EV sales rose 11.4% in Q1 compared to the same period last year, showing robust demand in segments like compact SUVs and sedans.
This contrast highlights a shift in consumer priorities—while many are ready to embrace EVs, fewer are willing to pay the premium for a full-size electric truck that might not yet deliver the same utility as a traditional gas-powered pickup.
Conclusion: The Hype vs. Reality Divide
For now, Ford can reclaim its title with the F-150 Lightning, but it’s a cautious victory in a sluggish and uncertain market. The battle of electric pickups is far from over, but the early signs suggest that automakers may need to rethink their strategies—and economics—before this category truly takes off.
