Will New Lower-Cost Tesla Cybertruck Double Cybertruck Sales?

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Last Updated on: 12th April 2025, 01:54 am

After sending me 5 emails trying to sell me a Tesla Cybertruck in the past month and a half, Tesla sent one more earlier today. It was announcing a new “Long Range” Cybertruck. The new version offers a range rating of 362 miles on a full charge. It’s also cheaper than the pre-existing All-Wheel Drive model and Cyberbeast model. The Long Range trim starts at $69,990 (or $62,490 after the US EV tax credit brought into law by Joe Biden and Democrats, which Donald Trump and Republicans haven’t repealed yet), while the All-Wheel Drive trim starts at $79,990 ($72,490 after the tax credit) and the Cyberbeast starts at $99,990 (not eligible for a tax credit).

Typically, a significant step down in price increases the buyer pool exponentially. So, one has to ask, will a $10,000 lower price — point combined with more range — lead to significantly more Cybertruck demand and sales?

Tesla sold 6,406 Cybertrucks in the 1st quarter, up 128.5% from the 2,803 Cybertrucks sold in the 1st quarter of 2024. Though, notably, Elon Musk expected to sell 150,000 Cybertrucks a year, and 6,406 sales a quarter translates to just 25,624 sales a year, just over one-sixth of that 150,000 vehicle target.

Also, of course, it was long hyped that there had been over a million reservations for the Cybertruck, but a tiny fraction of those turned into sales, perhaps because the vast majority of interested consumers were waiting for a cheaper version of the truck and more range. Or perhaps because people decided they didn’t like the Cybertruck that much anyway, expected Full Self Driving to actually be robotaxi capable by now, or just got sick of Elon Musk. Who knows?

The question now is how much this price drop and range increase will help move more Cybertrucks. It’s got to help, but I’m a bit skeptical that it will do much. A starting price of $69,990 (or $62,490 after the US EV tax credit if it doesn’t get axed by Republicans soon) is still quite a hefty starting price. (It’s too much for me to spend.) Also, 362 miles for a truck (not towing) is plenty for a normal person using it for basic commuting and kid duty, but many people buying a truck do want to use it for more and might still be unsure about that range. (I think such range is probably fine for the vast majority of people, but I’m not a truck person and I know many people massively inflate their range needs in their heads.)

More than anything, though, the Cybertruck stands out a lot — and I don’t think in a good way. Someone pointed out in a comment thread here that it looked like a dumpster, and I can never unsee that. I’ve actually seen a handful of dumpsters that bear a striking resemblance. Overall, though, even if you don’t have the dumpster comparison in your head, it is super clunky looking, the stainless steel isn’t exactly pretty, and the vehicle looks so different from the trucks people normally buy that I just have a hard time believing it could attract a mass-market customer base.

@mclovin.caplock.queen HAVING TROUBLE TELLING THE DIFFERENCE #cybertruck #cybertrucktesla #garbagecan #electric #fyp #fypage #fypシ゚viral #easttennesseegirl #tennessee #tiktok #look #plugin ♬ Stressed Out – twenty one pilots

@wavecamper23sonic spot the difference #cybertruck #nocyberbulling #meme ♬ original sound – adrianaaaa

I see the inspiration now…
byu/wandpapierkritiker inCyberStuck

Can Tesla double its sales of the Cybertruck with this new Long Range Version? I don’t think so, but maybe. But even if it can, what does that mean — 26,000 sales a year? That’s almost nothing!

Any other thoughts on the new Cybertruck option and consumer demand for the model?