The Cybertruck is the newest addition to Tesla’s electric lineup.You can order a Cybertruck today, but it likely will take months to be delivered.The Cybertruck is a unique addition to the electric pickup truck market.
The angular, steel-clad Cybertruck is the latest addition to Tesla’s growing lineup of electric vehicles.
The Cybertruck, assembled in Texas in the heart of pickup truck country, finally hit the market at the end of 2023 with a starting price of $60,990 (though the first models to roll off the assembly line were the $120,000 Foundation Series trucks).
The Cybertruck, first announced in 2019, arrived late to the electric pickup truck segment β just as EV drivers began favoring smaller and more inexpensive models. Even its least expensive trim level is $20,000 more expensive than CEO Elon Musk originally promised.
Several Tesla fans expressed disappointment at the Cybertruck launch, complaining that the price and final specs that didn’t live up to Musk’s original promises for the truck.
Demand for the truck initially outpaced production, with delivery dates over the summer pushed out until the end of the year or early next year. Tesla has since managed to shorten this wait to a few months, according to its website.
Here’s everything we know about Tesla’s Cybertruck today.
How much does the Tesla Cybertruck cost?
There are currently only two trim levels of the Foundation series listed on Tesla’s website, ranging in price from $99,990 to $119,990. All trim levels require a $250 deposit at the time of your order.
All-wheel drive: $99,990. The dual-motor all-wheel drive Foundation series Cybertruck is equipped with an estimated 340 miles of range. It also has a top speed of 112 miles per hour and can achieve 0-60 miles per hour in 4.1 seconds.Cyberbeast: $199,990. The top-of-the-line Cybertruck has a slightly lower range of 320 miles, sacrificing range for performance. The Cyberbeast is purported to reach 0-60 miles per hour in a blistering 2.6 seconds with a top speed of 130 miles per hour and 845 horsepower. It also delivers 10,296 pounds-feet of torque, according to Tesla, with an 11,000-pound towing capacity.
At the Cybertruck’s initial reveal, Tesla also announced two lower-price trim levels, which no longer appear on the company’s website. A $60,990 base model was listed with 250 miles of range while an all-wheel drive model with 340 miles of range was listed for $79,990. At the time, these models were due to arrive in 2025.
Like other pickup trucks in its class, the Cybertruck is a five-passenger vehicle. The angular bed with a lockable cover is 6 feet long and boasts 54.2 cubic feet of storage space.
The advertised charging speed for the Cybertruck is about 250 kilowatts-per-hour, which translates to 128 miles of range added in 15 minutes on a Tesla Supercharger.
How long is the wait for a Cybertruck?
Tesla currently estimates delivery of the available Foundation series Cybertrucks for October and November 2024. Tesla first started deliveries of the Cybertruck in November of 2023.
The company doesn’t break out Cybertruck in its quarterly delivery reports, so the exact number of Cybertrucks that have been ordered, sold, and delivered is unclear. But a Tesla recall for a windshield wiper defect in June covered more than 11,000 Cybertrucks on the road in the US, likely all built so far.
The Cybertruck is assembled at Tesla’s Austin Gigafactory with a new manufacturing process. Reports of hiccups in the production launch have hinted at the complexity of Cybertruck manufacturing, which may explain why the Cybertruck took so long to get to market, but the launch is far from the stressful ramp of the Model 3 in 2018.
How does the Tesla Cybertruck stack up against other electric trucks?
The Cybertruck debuts a bevy of new Tesla features, bringing Musk’s electric car company into the bloodsport of American pickup trucks.
On towing, Tesla outdoes the F-150 Lightning by 1,000 pounds and the Cybertruck ties the Rivian R1T with an 11,000-pound towing capacity on the top two trim levels. The base model Cybertruck is expected to have a towing capacity of around 7,500 pounds.
Tesla’s advertised maximum payload of 2,500 pounds also outdoes the Lightning’s 2,235 pounds. Both trucks beat out the R1T’s 1,764-pound maximum payload.
To accommodate the Cybertruck’s unwieldy size and dimensions, Tesla has outfitted the truck with a steer-by-wire system, which allows for more nimble driving. The steering wheel’s responsiveness changes depending on speed, while rear-wheel steering allows the massive truck to maneuver into tight spaces.
The Cybertruck is also equipped with Tesla’s standard Autopilot driver-assist software. Cybertruck drivers can also subscribe to the more advanced Full Self Driving software, which has started to work on some models, according to owners.
What’s the deal with Cybertruck’s steel body?
One of the Cybertruck’s most unique features is its stainless steel exterior.
The ultra-hard steel exoskeleton is stamped as one piece, which Tesla has claimed will lead to fewer dents and easier repairs due to the lack of paint. Elon Musk initially promised the Cybertruck would be completely bullet-proof, though that hasn’t panned out in reality.
While the Cybertruck can withstand 9mm bullets from a handgun, some bigger guns dealt more damage.
Skeptics of the Cybertruck were concerned that the stainless steel exterior would show unsightly smudges and other imperfections heading into the launch.
Upkeep has been reportedly complex, with owners reporting trouble at the car wash. Tesla’s owner’s manual recommends putting the truck in “Car Wash Mode” to protect certain features from damage.
In the first few months after the $99,900 Cyberbeasts started hitting the road, Tesla owners took to social media to complain about the Cybertruck’s rust spots that developed when the vehicles were left out in the rain.
A Tesla engineer later addressed the complaints, offering advice on how to buff out the orange spots on the Cybertruck.
