The Tesla Cybertruck launches a low-cost version in the USA

Faced with declining sales of its electric pickup, Tesla opens orders for a stripped-down version of the Cybertruck.

The announcement is the talk of all Tesla fan forums in the United States: the Cybertruck is no longer selling but is merely fulfilling the pre-orders recorded over the past two years. The technical problems are so numerous, the feedback so dramatic, the perceived quality so poor, and the ranges so disappointing compared to Elon Musk’s promises, that the product has become a source of mockery.

Customers of Tesla have received a purchase offer for a Cybertruck whose equipment is stripped down compared to the launch version called Foundation Series. The price has dropped by 20,000 dollars (excluding taxes + state VAT) to settle at 79,990 dollars. Now, the debate across the Atlantic is about the price gap of the approaching “entry-level” Tesla Cybertruck – not yet on the online configurator – compared to the well-equipped and nicely finished Tesla Model X… sold for “only” 65,990 dollars. In reality, this price drop for the Cybertruck reignites the debate on the product’s appeal once the hype of late 2023 has passed. Especially since the export sales potential seems quite small…

These same Tesla customers are informed that if they place an order immediately, they will be delivered as early as October, at the latest in November. No manufacturer is offering such short delivery times anymore, which is truly alarming regarding the thickness of the Cybertruck order book.

Disappointing feedback?

The height of annoyance for potential customers extends to the removal of the tie-down brackets in the rear bed, which nullifies the utility of a pickup. Reading the comments from owners of the Tesla Cybertruck is also interesting regarding their experiences. One can understand that the Cybertruck is “100 years ahead of the thermal competition” in terms of modernity, connectivity, and energy cost, but the aluminum structure poses a serious issue. It would bend under load when good old steel pickups from Ford, Dodge, Toyota, or Chevrolet are certainly more rugged, but better suited to everyday needs.

Urbanites who are indifferent to these issues say they are eagerly awaiting this more affordable version, even hoping for even bigger discounts before making a purchase. Thus, there is a reservoir of customers for the Cybertruck, but not at prices of 80,000 dollars and above.

Remember that the initial promise was 39,990 dollars. We are very, very far from that. Let’s bet that the arrival, around 2025, of the Propulsion version will once again lower the price… and the features of the Cybertruck.

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