Tesla Ends Seven Year Cybertruck Wait in Australia and New Zealand

Tesla has cancelled the Cybertruck for Australia and New Zealand, returning deposits to two million reservation holders. Emails sent on 23 October 2026 informed customers that their orders were void and that full refunds would be processed within 30 days. This decision ends a wait of nearly seven years for buyers who paid A$150 to reserve the electric pickup.

The company stated that it is "unable to fulfil your reservation and it will be cancelled." Instead of a refund, customers who order a new Model 3 or Model Y will receive a free one year subscription to Full Self Driving (Supervised). The offer aims to convert existing reservations into sales of vehicles Tesla already manufactures for right hand drive markets.

The primary obstacle was the vehicle's design. The Cybertruck is built exclusively in left hand drive, while Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and Japan require right hand drive vehicles. Australia also requires certification under its own design rules, a costly process for a truck facing weak demand in North America. Tesla has shipped the vehicle only to left hand drive countries, including South Korea, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan, and Israel.

Sales figures suggest a redesign is not economically viable. Tesla delivered 8,295 units in the "Other Models" category during the third quarter of 2026. This category consists almost entirely of Cybertrucks since production of the Model S and Model X ended. Quarterly sales of roughly 7,000 to 8,000 units fall far short of the production line's annual capacity of 250,000 vehicles. The combined population of Australia and New Zealand is approximately 33 million people.

Tesla first opened reservations in Australia in November 2019. A 2020 survey estimated the country accounted for about 3% of global reservations. By 2023, tracking data indicated total reservations had reached roughly two million. The company closed the reservation page in May 2022 without issuing refunds at that time. In 2024, Elon Musk told shareholders that certification for other markets might occur the following year. No right hand drive version followed.

US sales have declined from approximately 39,000 units in 2024. The truck that arrived in Australia for a display tour in 2023 featured a higher price and less range than initially promised. The cancellation follows Tesla's third quarter 2026 earnings report. The vehicle remains blocked from the European Union market due to pedestrian safety concerns.