Tesla is under pressure from Michigan authorities after scores of unsold Cybertrucks were discovered parked at a shuttered shopping center in Farmington Hills, prompting concerns about violations of local zoning regulations.
Over the past several weeks, local residents and social media users have posted images and videos showing rows of Cybertrucks lined up at Hunter’s Square shopping center on Orchard Lake Road.
The site is adjacent to a Tesla service center in West Bloomfield, leading to speculation that the facility is using the lot as an overflow site to manage unsold inventory. Reports estimate more than 100 vehicles have accumulated in the space.
Tesla employees collecting the trucks told CBS Detroit that the property is owned by the same party that manages the nearby service center and that the vehicles were scheduled for customer delivery. However, the City of Farmington Hills has taken issue with this explanation.
“The City of Farmington Hills code enforcement office has been in communication with the Hunter’s Square shopping center management to resolve the issue,” Charmaine Kettler-Schmult, the city’s planning and community development director, told CBS Detroit.
“They have been notified that storage of vehicles is not a permitted use. The enforcement process is being followed and takes time.”
Tesla’s decision to store the trucks at the site has highlighted the company’s struggles in selling the Cybertruck — a model CEO Elon Musk once touted as a groundbreaking entry into the electric pickup market.
According to data from Cox Automotive, Tesla sold just over 6,000 Cybertrucks in the first quarter of 2025, bringing total deliveries to fewer than 50,000 units since the vehicle’s debut.
Tesla had originally projected annual sales could reach as high as 250,000 units.
In 2024, Tesla delivered around 40,000 Cybertrucks — approximately 10,000 fewer than Wall Street analysts expected.
The gap between forecast and reality has led to a substantial buildup in inventory, with Electrek reporting recently that the company had an estimated 10,000 unsold Cybertrucks on hand.
In response, Tesla has scaled back production of the truck.
The automaker began reassigning workers from the Cybertruck production line to its more successful Model Y operation as early as December 2024, according to employees who spoke to Business Insider.
Tesla sales have also sagged amid widespread backlash over Musk’s active role as head of DOGE in the Trump administration — which has sparked protests and acts of vandalism.
Tesla’s brand, once synonymous with cutting-edge innovation, has become increasingly polarizing as the company navigates a series of public relations and logistical hurdles.
In December, the company’s stock benefited from a “Trump bump” in the wake of the Nov. 5 election — roaring to an all-time high of nearly $480 a share.
Since then, however, the stock tanked by more than 50% — though it has recovered in recent weeks as Musk has indicated he would devote more time to running the company.
The situation is further complicated by a series of recalls that have plagued the Cybertruck since it first reached consumers.
Eight recalls have been issued to date, with problems ranging from faulty windshield wipers to delayed rear camera displays.
The most recent recall affected nearly 46,000 vehicles — virtually every Cybertruck sold to that point — due to concerns that a stainless steel trim panel could detach while the vehicle is in motion.
Representatives for Tesla were not immediately available for comment.
