By Abhirup Roy and Hyunjoo Jin
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) – Tesla is no longer accepting orders for the cheapest version of its Cybertruck, which costs $61,000. The $100,000 version, however, can be ordered immediately and will be delivered later this month, the company’s website said.
Demand and supply for the Cybertruck are being closely watched by Tesla investors and fans, as CEO Elon Musk has invested major resources in the truck’s development and plans to produce 200,000 units per year.
Back in October, Musk said Tesla had 1 million reservations for the truck. Some customers have indicated they will wait for cheaper versions because prices are higher and range is shorter than originally forecast.
“It shows that demand is well below a million trucks,” Sam Abuelsamid, an analyst at Guidehouse Insights, told Reuters.
Cybertruck sold nearly 4,800 units in July – its best month yet and by far the best-selling vehicle in the U.S. priced above $100,000, according to Cox Automotive. “They have sold more than 16,000 so far, but sustaining high volume in this price range will be challenging,” a Cox spokesperson said in an email.
Deliveries of the Cybertruck – which has an unconventional trapezoidal exterior design inspired by the film “Blade Runner” and a stainless steel body – began in November 2023 after years of delays and a difficult production ramp. Musk had estimated in 2019 that the truck would cost $40,000 and could travel 500 miles or more on a single charge.
Tesla’s website no longer offers the option to reserve a $61,000 version of the Cybertruck that was previously offered with a 250-mile range and scheduled deliveries in 2025. The $99,990 Foundation Limited Series with two motors and a range of 318 miles is expected to begin shipping later this month, while the $119,990 Foundation Cyberbeast with three motors and a range of 301 miles will be available in October.
“They are currently sitting on a large inventory of two- and three-engine trucks,” Abuelsamid said.
(Reporting by Abhirup Roy and Hyunjoo Jin in San Francisco; Editing by Leslie Adler)
