The angular, steel-plated Cybertruck has become the latest addition to Tesla’s expanding lineup of electric vehicles.
Built in Texas—right in the heart of pickup truck country—the Cybertruck finally entered the market in late 2023, debuting at a starting price of $60,990.
However, the initial units that rolled off the production line were the high-end $120,000 Foundation Series trucks.
Although the Cybertruck was originally announced in 2019, it arrived late to the electric pickup truck scene, entering just as electric vehicle buyers began gravitating toward smaller, more affordable options.
Even the Cybertruck’s lowest-priced trim is $20,000 more than what CEO Elon Musk initially promised.
Some Tesla enthusiasts voiced disappointment at the Cybertruck’s launch, pointing out that the final pricing and specifications didn’t match Musk’s early promises for the vehicle.
Despite this, initial demand for the truck outpaced production, with summer delivery dates pushed to the end of the year or early next year.
Tesla has since managed to reduce this wait time to a few months, as reflected on its website.Here’s what we currently know about the Tesla Cybertruck.
How Much Does the Tesla Cybertruck Cost?
At present, Tesla lists only two trim levels in the Foundation series on its website, with prices ranging from $99,990 to $119,990. A $250 deposit is required to place an order for any trim level.
All-Wheel Drive
Priced at $99,990, the dual-motor all-wheel-drive Foundation series Cybertruck boasts an estimated 340 miles of range. It can reach a top speed of 112 mph and accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 4.1 seconds.
Cyberbeast
At $199,990, this top-tier Cybertruck trim has a slightly shorter range of 320 miles, prioritizing performance instead. The Cyberbeast can achieve 0 to 60 mph in an impressive 2.6 seconds, with a top speed of 130 mph and a horsepower of 845.
Tesla states it delivers 10,296 pound-feet of torque and an 11,000-pound towing capacity.
During the Cybertruck’s initial reveal, Tesla also announced two lower-priced trims that no longer appear on the company’s website.
A base model at $60,990 with a 250-mile range was listed, along with an all-wheel-drive model offering a 340-mile range at $79,990. These models were slated for a 2025 release.
Like other pickup trucks in its category, the Cybertruck accommodates five passengers. It features an angular 6-foot bed with a lockable cover and a storage capacity of 54.2 cubic feet.
The advertised charging rate for the Cybertruck is approximately 250 kilowatts per hour, which translates to around 128 miles of range added in just 15 minutes using a Tesla Supercharger.
How Long is the Wait for a Cybertruck?
Tesla currently projects the available Foundation series Cybertrucks to be delivered by October and November 2024. Initial deliveries began in November 2023.
Tesla does not separately report Cybertruck sales in its quarterly delivery figures, so the exact number of Cybertrucks ordered, sold, and delivered remains unclear.
However, a Tesla recall for a windshield wiper defect in June involved over 11,000 Cybertrucks on U.S. roads, likely covering all units produced so far.
The Cybertruck is built at Tesla’s Austin Gigafactory, where a new manufacturing process is employed.
Reports of production launch challenges suggest the complexity of Cybertruck manufacturing, which may explain its delayed release, though the launch process has been more stable than the Model 3’s in 2018.
How Does the Tesla Cybertruck Compare with Other Electric Trucks?
The Cybertruck introduces a range of new Tesla features as it enters the highly competitive U.S. pickup truck market.
Regarding towing, Tesla surpasses the Ford F-150 Lightning by 1,000 pounds, and the Cybertruck ties the Rivian R1T with an 11,000-pound towing capacity on its top two trims.
The base model is expected to have a towing capacity of around 7,500 pounds.
Tesla’s maximum payload rating of 2,500 pounds also surpasses the Lightning’s 2,235 pounds, while both exceed the R1T’s 1,764-pound maximum payload.
To help manage the Cybertruck’s considerable size, Tesla has equipped it with a steer-by-wire system, enhancing its agility.
The steering wheel’s responsiveness adjusts based on speed, and rear-wheel steering enables the large truck to go through tight spaces.
Additionally, the Cybertruck comes with Tesla’s Autopilot driver-assist software as standard.
Drivers can also opt to subscribe to the more advanced Full Self-Driving software, which is functional on certain models, according to some owners.
What About the Cybertruck’s Steel Body?
The Cybertruck’s stainless steel exterior is one of its most distinctive features.
This ultra-hard steel exoskeleton is stamped in a single piece, which Tesla claims will minimize dents and make repairs easier by eliminating the need for paint.
While Elon Musk initially claimed the Cybertruck would be completely bulletproof, this has not fully materialized.
The Cybertruck can withstand 9mm bullets fired from a handgun, though higher-caliber firearms have caused more damage.
Before launch, some Cybertruck skeptics worried that the stainless steel exterior would reveal unattractive smudges and imperfections.
Upkeep has proven to be a bit challenging, as some owners reported difficulties with car washing.
Tesla’s owner’s manual suggests placing the truck in “Car Wash Mode” to safeguard certain features from potential damage.
In the first few months after the $99,990 Cyberbeasts hit the road, some owners took to social media to report rust spots that appeared after their vehicles were left outside in the rain.
A Tesla engineer later addressed these complaints, providing tips on how to buff out the orange spots on the Cybertruck.
