Tesla Cybertruck Increased Pricing Revealed 4 Years After Debut

More than four years after Tesla unveiled its dystopian, concept-like pickup truck, the Cybertruck was handed off to 10 new owners at a delivery event at the Tesla Texas gigafactory on Thursday. 

The Cybertruck debuted in November 2019 as an angular beast with unmatched range, capability and pricing. Four years later, the price has ballooned across the board and the base and top-trim Cyberbeast aren’t as impressive as originally promised.

The Cybertruck will come in three configurations: The base model (Rear-Wheel Drive) gets a single-motor electric powertrain and a price of an estimated $60,990 (up from 2019’s estimated $40,000). The dual-motor All-Wheel Drive version has 340-mile range for around $80,000 (originally $50,000) and the top-trim tri-motor truck, called the Cyberbeast, with a price tag of around $100,000. 

Mainstream delivery is expected for the Cyberbeast and AWD versions in 2024 with the rear-wheel option coming later in 2025. At the delivery event only tri-motor versions were shown.

When it arrives for real, the Cybertruck will compete with the Rivian R1T and Ford F-150 Lightning and eventually the Chevrolet Silverado EV and the 2025 Ram 1500 Ramcharger.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk led the event in front of his adoring fans (it was also livestreamed on his X social media platform), going through the Cybertruck’s top stats. Its most recognizable feature is its body shell, which Tesla calls an exoskeleton. The body is made from a custom alloy (originally it was to sport 30X cold-rolled stainless steel), which is left bare. “This metal did not exist before,” Musk said at the unveiling. The effect is similar to that of the DeLorean DMC-12, which looks like a piece of silverware with wheels. 

Though it didn’t fare well during the unveiling ceremony, at the unveiling Tesla showed the glass and doors going up against balls and gunshots. Tesla says the Cybertruck comes with armored glass that absorbs and redirects impacts for better safety. “Why’d you make it bulletproof,” Musk posed at the delivery event. “Why not,” he responded. 

The automaker updated its promises Thursday, saying it now features up to 2,500 pounds of payload (down from 3,500 pounds) and adjustable air suspension with 17 inches of ground clearance. The 6-by-4-foot bed comes with a unique sliding lockable cover that protects 100 cubic-feet of cargo space. Musk demonstrated its strength by standing on the cover during a May 2020 episode of Jay Leno’s Garage.  

Depending on the configuration, the Cybertruck will be able to tow up to 11,000 pounds (down from the original promise of 14,000) and will deliver a range of 340 miles on the AWD, 320 on the Cyberbeast and 250 on the base. It was originally promised as 500-plus miles. Tesla still hasn’t given out all the details, but the truck appears to be at least comparable to the capabilities displayed by the Ford F-150 Lightning. The single-motor variant can accelerate to 60 mph from a standstill in 6.5 seconds and the tri-motor version can do it in just 2.6 seconds. The mid-trim takes 4.1 seconds.

The truck’s adjustable air suspension delivers on ground clearance, giving the Cybertruck 17 inches of clearance. Tesla claims an approach angle of 35 degrees and a departure angle of 28 degrees, so the Cybertruck should be remarkably capable off-road. It has a 6,850 pound curb weight. It has a .335 drag coefficient and 35-inch all-terrain tires.

“It’s an incredibly useful truck,” Musk said at the Nov. 30 event. “It’s not some grandstanding show piece, like me.”

Inside, the Cybertruck offers seating for up to six people and auxiliary storage under the rear seat. As with other Teslas, the truck will get a massive touchscreen that handles everything from audio settings to turning on the giant windshield wipers. It measures 17 inches corner to corner. It will have a steer-by-wire system and four-wheel steering. It will have a 48-volt architecture, a first and a departure from the usual 12-volt system.

The Cybertruck is expected to offer Tesla’s so-called Full Self-Driving tech, assuming the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) doesn’t shut it down. The advanced driving system helps Tesla vehicles navigate highways and city streets. It’s come under scrutiny after several high-profile incidents.

When asked about safety features and performance, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) said in an email statement, “IIHS doesn’t have any immediate plans to evaluate the crashworthiness or crash avoidance features of the Cybertruck.”

NHTSA clarified that it does not “approve” new vehicles. Instead it, “establishes performance requirements in Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, and manufacturers certify compliance with FMVSS requirements. The agency has not crash tested the Tesla Cybertruck.”

When Will the Cybertruck Be Available? 

Tesla has delayed the Cybertruck over the years, but it technically delivered its first 10 units at the November 2023 event. None of the owners drove the pickups and there were no visible door handles as they entered. Musk has promised that the tri-motor Cyberbeast and AWD versions will be out in 2024 with production starting at the Gigafactory in Austin, Texas. The rear-wheel base is expected to be available later into 2025.

How Much Will the Cybertruck Cost?

The 2024 and 2025 Tesla Cybertruck was once listed as available in three trims: $39,900 for single-motor, $49,900 for dual-motor and $69,900 for tri-motor. Its updated pricing has bumped it up to $60,990 for the base, $79,990 for the mid-tier and $99,990 for the Cyberbeast tri-motor. Its online reservations were once a fully refundable $100 deposit, but have now increased to $250. 

Once touted as an affordable alternative to the top-end Ford F-150 Lightning, which crests the $90,000 mark and Rivian R1T, the Cybertruck’s ballooning prices make it a more niche, luxury purchase.