Tesla’s big delivery miss means the automaker has bigger brand issues than expected in the US, and the Cybertruck is absolutely unsellable.

It’s worse than anyone expected.

Tesla delivered about 50,000 fewer vehicles in Q1 2025 compared to Q1 2024.

The results were also much lower than expectations for the quarter. Analysts expected roughly stable deliveries in China and the US, while they saw Tesla being down about 30,000 units in Europe.

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With regular registration data available in Europe and China, we have pretty good visibility in those markets. Analysts were right, with Tesla slightly up for the quarter in China and down about 30,000 units in Europe, with some countries having yet to report.

This means that the disappointing results are coming from the US.

Tesla likely delivered 20,000 feet units in the US this quarter than it did last year. The automaker is blaming that on the Model Y changeover, which is certainly partly true, but there’s more going on.

In Q1 2024, Tesla went through the Model 3 changeover, and Tesla was able to deliver its new Model Y on the same day as a new order at the end of March in the US. This would point to broader demand issues for Tesla in the US.

However, the automaker is still selling only the Long Range AWD Launch Edition version of the new Model Y in the US. The more significant demand test will be this quarter and Q3 when Tesla starts selling the cheaper versions and exhausts its backlog of demand from the last few months.

Tesla Cybertruck is dead weight

Tesla is super opaque about its vehicle deliveries. The automaker refuses to break down deliveries per model, making it harder to track the health of each model.

It bundles Model 3 and Model Y together, and all other models in a single category:

The “other models” category includes Model S, Model X, Cybertruck, and Tesla Semi deliveries.

These results with just 12,881 “other model” deliveries are particularly disappointing for Tesla.

For comparison, it is down 24% compared to Q1 2024 when Tesla was still ramping up Cybertruck production. It’s also down 44% compared to Q4 2024 when the category almost entirely consisted of Model S and Model X deliveries.

This would point to Tesla delivering between 5,000-8,000 Cybertrucks in Q1 2025 – depending on Model S/X delivery performance, which are also expected to be down. It would mark a third quarter in a row of sales decline for the electric pickup truck, just a little over a year into production.

Furthermore, the lower Cybertruck deliveries come as Tesla introduced new incentives to sell the truck in 2025 and even gained access to the $7,500 federal tax credit for electric vehicles.

Tesla is now having issues selling Cybertrucks at a rate of 40,000 per year, when Tesla prepared production for 250,000 units per year, and CEO Elon Musk said he could see Tesla reaching 500,000 units per year.

We reported yesterday that Tesla is sitting on over $200 million of Cybertruck inventory in the US.

Electrek’s Take

These are disastrous results, but the market still doesn’t understand them. You can’t blame everything on the Model Y changeover. Yes, it has an impact, but people forget that around the same time last year, Tesla was also going through the Model 3 changeover, and now a year later, Model 3 is ramped up and sales are down.

This should sound the alert.

Cybertruck is a complete dud in terms of volume, even with incentives.

Now, Tesla’s only hope is in the non-Launch Edition versions of the Model Y, which I expect Tesla to launch in the next few days.

They will help, there’s no doubt, but I think people need to consider more seriously the impact of Tesla’s brand problems due to Elon Musk.

In China, Tesla already has those models available, and it has already had to introduce 0% financing to sell them. That’s the equivalent of a $2,000 discount.

It’s going to be interesting to see how long after Tesla introduces those models in the US, it will also have to introduce 0% financing. It will give us a good idea of how popular is the Model Y refresh in Tesla’s home market.

The automaker needs it to be popular because Europe is a dying market for Tesla, and it is being squeezed out of China by competition.

Lotus has launched its 2026 model year versions of its Emeya and Eletre EVs and is changing things up a bit this year to provide a wider array of standard features for its customers. The automaker has introduced new “600” and “900” trim nomenclature and several variants within each of those badges to note performance and other key features. You can see the trim breakdown of Lotus’ revamped trims below.

Geely-owned supercar brand Lotus has been slowly molding itself into an all-electric marque to meet its 2028 target, which was initially announced back in 2021. An exciting start to that transition began with two all-electric flagship models: the Eletre, which went on sale in North America in early 2024, and the Emeya, a hyper GT sporting some serious charging power.

Both models are now entering the 2026 model year market, and Lotus has announced changes to what it offers its customers. For those who like options, Lotus has a 2026 EV lineup for you, but if you can be overwhelmed by too many choices, it may have just gotten harder to choose a new Eletre or Emeya.

Lotus revamps its 2026 EV lineup

According to a release from Lotus earlier, it is kicking off sales of its 2026 model year Eletre and Emeya EVs with a revamped lineup that includes 12 (yes, 12) different variants. To begin, Lotus has added “600” and “900” model distinctions that reflect the electric power output of their respective BEVs.

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Lotus has also borrowed from its history in combustion vehicles, adding “GT” and “GT SE” trims to the all-electric models. For 2026, the Lotus Eletre and Emeya are now available in six trim levels: Eletre 600, 600 GT, 600 GT SE, 600 SPORT SE, 900 SPORT and 900 SPORT CARBON. You may recall Lotus launched an Eletre CARBON variant in 2024.

Lotus shared that its “600” trims of its 2026 Eletre and Emeya models feature a standard 450 kW (612 hp) dual-motor powertrain and all-wheel drive. The Emeya 600 GT can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h (0 to 62 mph) in 4.15 seconds (4.5 seconds for the Eletre 600) and reach a top speed of 155 mph (Eletre: 159 mph).

The new “900” variants of the Eletre and Emeya utilize a 675 kW (918 hp) dual-motor powertrain, propelling the Emeya 900 from 0 to 62 mph in 2.78 seconds from a standstill (Eletre 900: 2.95 sec). The top speeds of the Emeya 900 and Eletre 900 are 155 mph and 159 mph, respectively. Here are some key features that set each of the 2026 Lotus BEV trims apart:

• Eletre 600: 450 kW (612 bhp) dual-motor, 4WD, 112 kWh battery pack, 22kW onboard charger, active air suspension with Continuous Damping Control, 20-inch wheels, torque vectoring by brake, LED matrix headlights, KEF PREMIUM 15 speaker audio, 29″ HUD, 4 zone climate control, Jasper interior theme with LOTUSWEAR Performance Fabric for the seats
• Eletre 600 GT: Highway assist, parking pack, 22″ alloy wheels, 6 piston brakes
• Eletre 600 GT SE: Intelligent glass roof, KEF REFERENCE 23 speakers audio, configurable ambient lighting, illuminated side sills
• Eletre 600 SPORT SE: Lotus dynamic handling pack, active rear spoiler, massaging & ventilated front seats, soft-close doors
• Eletre 900 SPORT: 675 kW dual-motor, 2-speed transmission, Lotus dynamic handling pack, active rear spoiler, Quartz interior theme with LOTUSWEAR Performance Fabric for the seats
• Eletre 900 SPORT CARBON: extended exterior carbon pack, interior carbon pack, Sports bonnet (lightweight composite material), massaging & ventilated front seats, soft-close doors
• Emeya 600: 450 kW (612 bhp) dual-motor, 4WD, 102 kWh battery pack, 22kW onboard charger, active air suspension with Continuous Damping Control, 20-inch wheels, torque vectoring by brake, LED matrix headlights, KEF PREMIUM 15 speaker audio, 51″ HUD, 4 zone climate control, Jasper interior theme with LOTUSWEAR Performance Fabric for the seats
• Emeya 600 GT: Highway assist, parking pack, 21″ alloy wheels, 6 piston brakes
• Emeya 600 GT SE: Intelligent glass roof, hands-free tailgate, configurable ambient lighting, illuminated side sills
• Emeya 600 SPORT SE: Lotus dynamic handling pack, active rear spoiler, active rear diffuser and active front air dam, massaging & ventilated front seats, soft-close doors
• Emeya 900 SPORT: 675 kW (918 hp) dual-motor, 2-speed transmission, Lotus dynamic handling pack, active rear spoiler, Quartz interior theme with LOTUSWEAR Performance Fabric for the seats
• Emeya 900 SPORT CARBON: extended exterior carbon pack, extended interior carbon pack, active rear diffuser, active front air dam, massaging & ventilated front seats, soft-close doors

The 2026 versions of the Lotus Eletre and Emeya are available now and are expected to hit showrooms this summer. Per Lotus, the 600 trims of the Eletre and Emeya each start at a price of  £84,990 ($110,00). You can peruse all the standard features and how all the new variants vary in price on the Lotus website

The Trump Administration’s 25% tariffs are set to hit the auto industry today, targeting imported sedans, SUVs, vans, pickups, and even the parts required to keep existing vehicles on the road. But, crucially, the tariffs do not impact motorcycles.

So, if you’ve been searching for an excuse to buy a new motorcycle, The God Emperor Donald J. Trump might have just handed you one!

If you’re serious about reducing carbon emissions and finding the most efficient way to get from A to B, a motorcycle is almost always been a better bet than cars – and that’s typically true whether you’re talking about ICE or battery-powered bikes. And, for 2025, the electric motorcycle market is finally bringing some options to US shores that don’t feel like glorified toasters with “Power Wheels” performance and charging times.

Here are few of the bikes I think you should considering:

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LiveWire S2 Mulholland

With a 3 second 0-60 mph time and up to 120 miles of range, the LiveWire Mulholland isn’t the bike to live out your Easy Rider fantasies on. But if you’re under 40, you probably have no idea what I’m talking about, anyway – and you’re not looking for bike to define your lifestyle. Instead, you’re looking for a bike that fits into life you’re already living, and the $16,499 Mulholland can probably do just that.

With a price tag roughly $30,000 lower than the average transaction price of a new car, the LiveWire S2 models are definitely worth a look.

Ryvid Anthem

American motorcycle startup Ryvid began deliveries of its Anthem model in 2023. And, at US $7,800, it’s one of the most affordable, highway-capable electric motorcycles in the US.

As our own Micah Toll wrote in his original review of the Ryvid, the bike’s claim to fame isn’t just an affordable price tag, but rather an innovative design full of never-before-seen tech:

One of the biggest differences between the Ryvid Anthem and other motorcycles on the market is the aircraft-style chassis that relies on folded metal plates instead of welded tubes. It allows Ryvid to use an assembly method that is comprised almost entirely of mechanical fasteners, reducing assembly time and relying on California-based production.

In another nod to nonconformity, the bike also includes an actuator that can raise and lower the motorcycle seat by up to 4″ (10 cm), even while riding. That allows multiple riders to get the perfect fit on the same bike, or lets riders drop the seat height while at a traffic light and then raise it back up while riding.

MICAH TOLL

Since its launch, Ryvid has lowered prices and improved specs, even launching a new model, the Outset, as a $5,995 all electric alternative to bikes like the Honda Grom or used Rebel/Virago 250s. If you happen to find yourself near an Electrify Expo this summer, give one a test ride.

Vespa Elettrica

If you’re a Vespa purist, you love its steel body and rakish, wasp-inspired styling. You probably also hate the fact that it’s not powered by a two-stroke motor with a manual transmission, too – but give the Elettrica a chance and its instant torque, class-leading fit and finish, and timeless style will win you over.

With a 45 mph top speed and confidence-inspiring handling, this Italian two-wheeler is one of the quickest ways to conquer the concrete jungle. Prices start at $7,999.

The big green hybrid option

If you’re ready to ride but not quite ready to ride fully electric, the new Kawasaki Ninja 7 Hybrid ABS might be the bike for you.

Somewhere between a standard and a sport bike, the Ninja 7 seems to occupy the niche previously defined by bikes like the legendary Yamaha Seca II or, more recently, the Suzuki SV650 or Honda Hornet. With a 451 cc liquid-cooled twin backed by a 48V battery sending power to an electric motor that absolutely blasts the Kawasaki down the road in a way that you are definitely not expecting a 451 cc twin to be able to. And, at just $12,499, it will get you from A to B with a monthly payment less than a third of the new car average.

Electrek’s Jo’s Take

I’ve been writing about EVs since 2008, and turned wrenches on my first ever electric vehicle – the little RamChop at Mosler Automotive – all the way back in 1997. When it comes to four wheels, I’m all about plug-in cars.

Motorcycles, though? I’m not quite there, yet … but the Mulholland is really, really close. If they could get DC fast charging to work and drop the charging time into the 10-15 minute range I’d be all over it, but an hour (plus) on the sideline for every 90 minutes of riding ain’t it. Not for the highway adventures I want to have on my bike.

That’s my take, anyway. What about you guys? Are electric motorcycles ready for prime time? If you think they are, which one’s at the top of your take-home list? Let us know in the comments.

Original content from Electrek; featured image by Maeving.