Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk’s Tesla has officially presented the much-anticipated Cybertruck, overcoming a two-year saga of delays and production challenges.
The Blade Runner-inspired electric trucks were ceremoniously handed over to select customers during an event at Tesla’s Austin headquarters. Elon Musk personally delivered some of the vehicles, including one to Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, in a live-streamed spectacle on X, Musk’s proprietary social media platform.
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Pricing Details and Configurations
The Cybertruck is offered in three configurations: rear-wheel drive, all-wheel drive, and the flamboyantly named Cyberbeast. However, reports reveal that the entry-level Cybertruck, which Musk had initially estimated at $39,900 in 2019, now comes with a starting price of $60,990. This figure, exceeding Musk’s earlier estimate by over 50%, has raised eyebrows in the industry. Notably, the most economical variant, a rear-wheel drive model with a 250-mile battery range, is slated for release in 2025, while delivery for pricier models, including the nearly $100,000 Cyberbeast, is expected next year.
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Industry Reactions and Elon Musk’s Defense
Gene Munster, Managing Partner at Deepwater Asset Management, expressed surprise at the higher-than-anticipated cost, emphasizing the need for Tesla to scale up production to address pricing concerns.
Munster acknowledged the challenges ahead, stating, “The reality is that the Cybertruck isn’t out yet.” Tesla’s foray into the competitive U.S. pickup truck market with the Cybertruck has garnered both enthusiasm and skepticism. Some critics, including analysts, have questioned the vehicle’s profitability, suggesting its potential cancellation.
Elon Musk defended the Cybertruck’s pricing, highlighting its utility and stating, “It’s an incredibly useful truck. It’s not just a grandstanding showpiece—like me.” Originally marketed with starting prices ranging from $39,900 to $69,900 in 2019, the current pricing landscape includes “probable savings” outlined on Tesla’s website. These savings incorporate federal tax credits and estimated gas savings over three years, bringing the estimated cost of the cheapest version to $49,890.
Cybertruck’s Unique Features and Performance Credentials
The Cybertruck boasts impressive performance credentials, including a rapid acceleration of 2.6 seconds from 0 to 60 miles per hour, comparable to a Porsche 911 Turbo S. It also features a towing capacity of up to 11,000 pounds, surpassing both the battery-powered Ford F-150 Lightning and certain gas-fueled F-150 models. With a 17-inch ground clearance, it outstrips all versions of the F-150 and the electric Rivian R1T pickup.
Despite its unique features, the Cybertruck’s entry-level price places it several thousand dollars above the commercial-grade electric F-150, starting at $49,995, and the base retail model at $54,995. Elon Musk remains confident in the Cybertruck’s appeal, asserting that it caters to diverse buyer needs, combining style and utility. In Musk’s words, it is “a better truck than a truck while also being a better sports car than a sports car.”