Surplus Teslas Flood Parking Lot in Detroit Suburb originally appeared on Autoblog.
A parking lot problem grows in Detroit
In the Detroit suburb of Farmington Hills, a vacant Bed Bath & Beyond parking lot has quietly transformed into a holding zone for dozens of unsold Tesla vehicles, mostly Cybertrucks. The unusual sight caught local attention when an Instagram video surfaced showing unregistered EVs sprawled across the asphalt. Since then, the number of Teslas has only grown, drawing concern from city officials.
City officials say it’s not permitted use
Tesla CybertruckJetcity image – Adobe Stock Images
While the vehicles aren’t abandoned, city leaders say they shouldn’t be there. “Storage of vehicles is not a permitted use” of the land, Farmington Hills’ director of planning and community development said in a statement. The city has notified the landlord and is pursuing enforcement, though it admits the process takes time.
Cybertruck demand is cooling off
Tesla CybertruckTesla
The swelling number of Cybertrucks parked on the lot is indicative of bigger problems at the electric vehicle maker. Tesla’s angular, stainless steel pickup was once the most popular electric truck in the country, but sales are slipping fast. In the first quarter of this year, Tesla delivered only 6,400 to 7,100 Cybertrucks — a sharp drop from about 13,000 in the previous quarter. While some seasonal decline is expected after Q4, the plunge was steep enough for Ford’s F-150 Lightning to reclaim the title of best-selling electric pickup.
This isn’t a new tactic for Tesla
Tesla has a long history of using unconventional overflow lots. It has parked surplus vehicles in everything from mall lots to vacant land near its showrooms. That’s likely the case here, as the company opened a nearby store just a mile away late last year in a former Barnes & Noble. The store is one of only a few in Michigan, where Tesla previously faced legal barriers to direct-to-consumer sales. A 2016 lawsuit helped overturn that ban.
Tesla Cybertruck – Production LineTesla
While Tesla’s ability to sell directly to consumers in Michigan marks a big shift, the company is now facing a more localized challenge: what to do with a growing fleet of unsold trucks. The suburban sprawl of unclaimed Cybertrucks may be a symptom of waning interest or overproduction, but to Farmington Hills officials, it’s a code violation either way. Whether Tesla will find a new place to store its excess inventory or manage to sell off the lot full of Cybertrucks remains to be seen.
Final thoughts
Tesla’s overflow of unsold Cybertrucks into a suburban Detroit parking lot is more than just an eyesore — it’s a snapshot of the company’s growing pains. As demand shifts and logistics get messier, even the most disruptive automakers have to play by local rules. Farmington Hills may just want its lot back, but the scene also raises bigger questions about how Tesla will manage its supply, demand, and reputation as it enters a more competitive and less forgiving EV market.
Surplus Teslas Flood Parking Lot in Detroit Suburb first appeared on Autoblog on May 31, 2025
This story was originally reported by Autoblog on May 31, 2025, where it first appeared.
