Oncast Tech · Tech Tonight

SpaceX fuels Falcon 9 for Space Force mission

· Fact-checked before it aired. Unconfirmed claims from this segment are not shown.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced on X that Tesla will wind down Cybertruck production at its Austin, Texas Gigafactory around mid-2027 to free up capacity for the Cybercab robotaxi. He did not explicitly say whether Cybertruck output would end completely or move elsewhere. The Austin plant is the only known factory equipped for the Cybertruck's specialized components. U.S. Cybertruck sales fell from 38,965 in 2024 to 20,237 in 2025, far below Musk's earlier prediction of 250,000 units a year. Tesla shares rose about 4.7% Friday after the announcement.

The move follows years of weak sales, recalls, and Musk's strategic pivot toward autonomous robotaxis. Cybertruck lead engineer Wes Morrill suggested the vehicle's technology “lives on through Cybercab,” while Musk said existing Cybertruck fleets would remain on the road for a long time.

SpaceX was preparing a Falcon 9 for the USSF-432 mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base on Friday, Nov. 6, with a launch window opening at 4:48 p.m. PT; propellant loading is the expected next countdown step.

Musk said Tesla will wind down Cybertruck production at its Texas Gigafactory around mid-2027 to make room for more Cybercab robotaxis. He did not say Tesla is pulling its existing Cybertruck fleet off the road, and he did not confirm production would end entirely. Promotional account introduction; no verifiable factual assertion.

Tesla will wind down Cybertruck production at its Texas factory around the middle of 2027 and shift capacity toward its Cybercab robotaxi, per CEO Elon Musk.

Fact-check

VERIFIED TRUE

SpaceX was preparing a Falcon 9 for the USSF-432 mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base on Friday, Nov. 6, with a launch window opening at 4:48 p.m. PT; propellant loading is the expected next countdown step.

All systems are looking good, and weather is favorable for liftoff. Propellant load is about to begin for Falcon 9’s launch of the USSF-432 mission from California → https://t.co/71Loda4Pvi https://t.co/aV6LN3ET3N

Original post · @SpaceX

[spacex.com](https://www.spacex.com/launches/ussf432) NAMES: USSF = United States Space Force; Falcon 9 = SpaceX's orbital rocket.

VERIFIED MISLEADING

Musk said Tesla will wind down Cybertruck production at its Texas Gigafactory around mid-2027 to make room for more Cybercab robotaxis. He did not say Tesla is pulling its existing Cybertruck fleet off the road, and he did not confirm production would end entirely. Promotional account introduction; no verifiable factual assertion.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk said his electric vehicle company is pulling the plug on its fleet of Cybertruck vehicles in 2027 and pivoting to developing its fully autonomous robotaxi. https://t.co/tlpvWSY08V

Original post · Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer)

[washingtonpost.com](https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2026/11/06/musk-says-tesla-will-wind-down-cybertruck-production-texas/), [bbc.com](https://www.bbc.

VERIFIED TRUE

Tesla will wind down Cybertruck production at its Texas factory around the middle of 2027 and shift capacity toward its Cybercab robotaxi, per CEO Elon Musk.

Tesla will wind down production of its futuristic Cybertruck at its Texas factory around the middle of 2027, as the electric vehicle manufacturer shifts production capacity towards its Cybercab robotaxi, Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk has announced. https://t.co/TL1CwmFORP

Original post · @skyhighnewshub

[washingtonpost.com](https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2026/11/06/musk-says-tesla-will-wind-down-cybertruck-production-texas/), [bbc.com](https://www.bbc.

Sources

What the hosts said

MSpaceX just posted — Falcon 9 is fueling for a Space Force launch out of California. USSF-432.
CVandenberg, weather favorable, propellant load about to begin. This is the part where it gets real.
MYou say that every single launch.
CBecause every launch, the rocket either leaves the pad or it doesn't. It never gets old.
MWhat do we actually know about USSF-432? The Space Force does not exactly broadcast payload details.
CIt's a U.S. Space Force mission, window opened at 4:48 Pacific. That's about all they need to say.
MSo a classified box is going to orbit. Fine.
CHere's what's not classified: SpaceX launches these so often now that a national security mission is just another Friday.
MThat's exactly my problem. A huge part of U.S. national security launch capability now depends on one company.
CBecause they're the only ones who can do it on schedule. United Launch Alliance is not flying at this tempo.
MSingle point of failure, Chris. If Falcon gets grounded, a big chunk of the Space Force gets grounded.
CBut the Pentagon kept two providers for exactly that reason. SpaceX and ULA both fly national security missions.
MThe market keeps saying one provider is actually flying on time. The other is not.
CAnd that's bad? Taxpayers get lower costs and more launches.
MIt's great until a mishap grounds the fleet and the backup has no real capacity.
CSo your fix is to pay more for slower rockets just to keep the backup warm?
MMy fix is to make the backup real. Not a name on a contract.
COkay, fair. But tonight Falcon 9 is loaded and going. That's the part I'm here for.
MAnd you'll be refreshing the webcast like everyone else.
CI'll be refreshing the webcast like a grown-up engineer.
MSame thing, Chris.

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