1st half Cybertruck and Silverado EV sales

[davehu]

just and FYI for those (including me) disappointed in the discontinuation of our great Lightning, I note that Silverado EV and Cybertruck sales have completely cratered in the 1st half of 2026. The cybertruck crash didn't surprise me, only so many people want an ugly spaceship with a ton of problems, but the Silverado EV poor showing surprised me.

!st half Cybertruck sales: 7700 units Cybertruck Called the Biggest Flop in Automotive History, as Tesla Shares Plummet
1st half Silverado EV sales: 4824 units (CA &USA) Chevrolet Silverado EV Sales Numbers

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[MarkIIDude]

The chevy dropoff doesn't surprise me as alot of the push to kill the lightning came from dealers and if you go in looking for an EV to a ICE dealership the sales force will generally push you toward an ICE or a hybrid. It's simple math. The dealership makes money off of the higher maintenance required on the ICEs - you don't blow your engine or transmission because you never change your oil if there is none to change...

 

[ka-chow]

It's the pricing. When a discontinued Lightning is still outselling you (GM) ya might wanna mull over a few things.

 

[Altivec]

There just isn't a compelling lightning replacement at this time. If my truck gets totalled, I really wouldn't know what to do. Not because I don't want a full sized EV truck. It's just I don't like what's out there. Not even going to talk about the Cyber whatever, the GM trucks are unibody (no separation line between the bed and the cab). No CarPlay, They also concentrated on Range with high price tags. If I need range, I would get an ICE. Rivian, although nice is way overpriced and a bit smaller then what I want

What all the OEM's got wrong with these trucks is Range. They are trying so hard to make them something they are not instead of focusing what they are good at. For businesses such ours (and there are a lot just like ours) we never leave town. We rarely come close to using half our battery in a day but save thousands a year in fuel. Ford was starting to get the idea with what was supposed to be revamped 2026 XLT. with decent battery size, and a decent niceties, all with a LOWER price. If this was all packaged with a decent marketing campaign towards business like ours. (IE, admit you don't do long distance towing BUT if you need a real truck that can tow like a diesel, has a huge frunk that can store and charge your tools, a silent generator that powers job sites and saves you thousands a year in fuel, come check out our new affordable XLT lightning). I think that trim would start moving the needle a bit.

I really hate all offerings right now... If something were to happen, I would try my best to find a new lightning out there. My second option would be to find a used lightning.

 

[MarkIIDude]

There just isn't a compelling lightning replacement at this time. If my truck gets totalled, I really wouldn't know what to do. Not because I don't want a full sized EV truck. It's just I don't like what's out there.

I really hate all offerings right now... If something were to happen, I would try my best to find a new lightning out there. My second option would be to find a used lightning.

Agreed! I roll about 20 miles a day and a 150 mile commute on weekends and the Truck is perfect. I have an 2018 F150 KR with the ER package that I used to use and it cost $120/week to run now I run about $30-40/week at most. A stop at Buc-ee's to top off to 80% will run $12-20.

 

[electricpig]

I would drive a Rivian, but new is too expensive, used might be an option, but the nearest service center is 200 miles away. Then there are many innovative things about the R1T, that just looks like $$$ to keep up. Lastly R1's have two 12V batteries that ARE NOT EASY TO CHANGE. Cost about $500.at Rivian to get them replaced.

As for the Chervy, in addition to the above cited reasons, they drive like a drunk rhino in comparison. Much slower response, and turning is way worse. Add the 9000lb weight, and Im concerned for my driveway.

 

[Shmoe]

I would drive a Rivian, but new is too expensive, used might be an option, but the nearest service center is 200 miles away. Then there are many innovative things about the G n 1 R1T, that just looks like $$$ to keep up. Lastly R15 has two 12V batteries that ARE NOT EASY TO CHANGE. Cost about $500.at Rivian to get them replaced.

As for the Chervy, in addition to the above cited reasons, they drive like a drunk rhino in comparison. Much slower response, and turning is way worse. Add the 9000lb weight, and Im concerned for my driveway.

They are making a serious commitment to mobile service as well -- there may not be a service center you can drive into but there may be a mobile service center dispatch near you that can do 90% of the work.

 

[B177y]

What all the OEM's got wrong with these trucks is Range. They are trying so hard to make them something they are not instead of focusing what they are good at.

I think the OEM's kept looking at the market research where the number one answer from USA car buyers is "range anxiety". That's still the most common thing people poo-poo any time I drive my Lightning/Mach-e/Bolt. It's an impossible opinion to change and isn't worth the air needed to argue.

So if all of the feedback that OEMs get is that Americans want an EV that has the range and familiarity of an ICE, they make EVs as close to ICEs as possible, which is a big expensive battery.

Problem is that they still don't sell enough because.... they're EVs and the TV person says EVs have no range.... And they're $$$.

I was in the "EVs are stupid" camp until I drove one. Now I'm 100% EV, no ICEs. Opinions will change slowly, then more options will be available to fill what the market wants.

 

[Shmoe]

I was in the "EVs are stupid" camp until I drove one. Now I'm 100% EV, no ICEs. Opinions will change slowly, then more options will be available to fill what the market wants.

It is kind of amusing how so many people speak expertly about them yet have never actually touched or driven one.

Like you said, usually just takes a test drive to change that quickly.

 

[Altivec]

I think the OEM's kept looking at the market research where the number one answer from USA car buyers is "range anxiety". That's still the most common thing people poo-poo any time I drive my Lightning/Mach-e/Bolt. It's an impossible opinion to change and isn't worth the air needed to argue.

So if all of the feedback that OEMs get is that Americans want an EV that has the range and familiarity of an ICE, they make EVs as close to ICEs as possible, which is a big expensive battery.

Problem is that they still don't sell enough because.... they're EVs and the TV person says EVs have no range.... And they're $$$.

I was in the "EVs are stupid" camp until I drove one. Now I'm 100% EV, no ICEs. Opinions will change slowly, then more options will be available to fill what the market wants.

you're not wrong... I think most of us were reluctant about EV's at one point. I know I was, so I got an EREV car in case I needed to go long distances (range anxiety)... Well I learned the hard way, that was a crappy way to go but it needed to be done for me to learn my lessons. I realized I don't drive as much long distance as I thought I did and it's not a big deal to charge the odd time I do compared to dealing with all the ICE crap I was rarely using.

I agree with you, that the majority of people who don't have an EV, have range anxiety. But is throwing a bigger battery in there, making the price outrageous, really solving that. Clearly by the sales, GM's strategy of doing just that is not working well. My point was to go about it a different way...Don't try to convince someone that if you pay an arm and a leg and get a 200Kw battery, your range anxiety problems are solved. You can now tow long distances like an ICE truck... That's BS. The reality is, if you do a lot of long distance driving and/or tow long distances, BEV is not there no matter how big the battery is. You are trying to put a square peg in a round hole and people aren't buying that strategy.

The strategy should be tuned to educate for whom a BEV truck is good for. In other words commercials with real contractors saving big money sharing their stories. Companies and people love saving money so show them why a BEV truck is there best option to SAVE MONEY instead of having commercials of a lightning drive down a highway. The benefits need to be drilled into peoples head, commercial after commercial. I know I have converted EV haters to wanting one for their next truck in ten minutes after I am done showing them my truck and debunking all the crap lies that haters tell each other. 100K of us bought this truck and the majority of us love it... We were slowly spreading the good word, which I am sure would have gotten bigger and louder if Ford kept going.

I don't even think 30k sales a year is that bad. That outsold every Lincoln Model, all Heavy trucks combined (not F series), and almost equivalent to all E-series. Clearly there is more to the story than just sales and marketing. I don't know what Fords future holds but I know I won't be going back to anything that has an ICE in it. I just hope my Lightning lasts long enough for when someone starts selling a decent full size BEV truck replacement. Until then, I must drive as if my lightning is a bubble wrapped egg.

 

[B177y]

I agree with both of your posts @Altivec . The only thing I differ on is that I would be open to the Chevy/GMC EV truck option if the worst came upon my Lightning. I haven't driven one, but for me there is nothing in the specs that puts me off. I'm an Android guy so the no Carplay thing doesn't really spin me like it seems to for lots of other people. I'm still not a "GM guy", but if Ford doesn't have something to replace the Lightning, I'd be open to trying out the GM.

We got a 2020 Bolt for our "kid car" recently as they come of driving age, and I've been using it for my work commute and any trips where I can save putting on miles on the Lightning. I'm pretty impressed with some of the choices GM put into that little car, almost 7 years ago. I would think their modern EV lineup, including the EV trucks, would have some of the good choices in them, but I'm only making assumptions. I could try driving a modern GM EV and not like it too, don't know until I try, and I don't want to be put in a sport where I actually have to try.

 

[TwentyTwentyThree]

This isn’t entirely true. Tesla is having some type of production issues with 2026 cybertrucks. Demand is definitely there.

 

[lightningwill]

"cyber truck demand crashes biggest flop ever"

"silverado sales a bit down"

yet cyber truck ships twice as many lol. but yeh none are a good lightning alternative imo. different trucks

 

[Wendy]

I never hear people worry about the range anxiety of a motorcycle, isn't it something near a Lightning?

 

[gregoryhcain]

you're not wrong... I think most of us were reluctant about EV's at one point. I know I was, so I got an EREV car in case I needed to go long distances (range anxiety)... Well I learned the hard way, that was a crappy way to go but it needed to be done for me to learn my lessons. I realized I don't drive as much long distance as I thought I did and it's not a big deal to charge the odd time I do compared to dealing with all the ICE crap I was rarely using.

I agree with you, that the majority of people who don't have an EV, have range anxiety. But is throwing a bigger battery in there, making the price outrageous, really solving that. Clearly by the sales, GM's strategy of doing just that is not working well. My point was to go about it a different way...Don't try to convince someone that if you pay an arm and a leg and get a 200Kw battery, your range anxiety problems are solved. You can now tow long distances like an ICE truck... That's BS. The reality is, if you do a lot of long distance driving and/or tow long distances, BEV is not there no matter how big the battery is. You are trying to put a square peg in a round hole and people aren't buying that strategy.

The strategy should be tuned to educate for whom a BEV truck is good for. In other words commercials with real contractors saving big money sharing their stories. Companies and people love saving money so show them why a BEV truck is there best option to SAVE MONEY instead of having commercials of a lightning drive down a highway. The benefits need to be drilled into peoples head, commercial after commercial. I know I have converted EV haters to wanting one for their next truck in ten minutes after I am done showing them my truck and debunking all the crap lies that haters tell each other. 100K of us bought this truck and the majority of us love it... We were slowly spreading the good word, which I am sure would have gotten bigger and louder if Ford kept going.

I don't even think 30k sales a year is that bad. That outsold every Lincoln Model, all Heavy trucks combined (not F series), and almost equivalent to all E-series. Clearly there is more to the story than just sales and marketing. I don't know what Fords future holds but I know I won't be going back to anything that has an ICE in it. I just hope my Lightning lasts long enough for when someone starts selling a decent full size BEV truck replacement. Until then, I must drive as if my lightning is a bubble wrapped egg.

I hear ya, I now treat my ‘22 Lariat Extended Range like it is a newborn baby. No hot rodding (although it can smoke well over 90% of ICE vehicles and quite a few muscle cars), no more off roading (although it is capable for the logging roads near me) and I drive it as defense as can be. I am in my 70’s and was thinking a T3 would have been my last truck, but that plug has been pulled by Ford. Now I am keeping an eye on the Scout EV truck. They haven’t published enough hard stats on it yet to know just what it will be and what it will do. However, one thing is for sure, there is no EREV in my future; the composite of the worst of both worlds…

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