Tesla Halted Orders for the Cheapest Cybertruck Model In Favor of More Expensive Variants

by Chris Teague

Published: August 12th, 2024

tesla halted orders for the cheapest cybertruck model in favor of more expensive

Like many EVs, the Tesla Cybertruck is more expensive than initially promised, but recent changes have made it impossible to order the cheapest configuration. The automaker stopped taking orders for the $61,000 variant, leaving only the more expensive models on sale.

Tesla made the $100,000 Cybertruck available for immediate order, offering deliveries as soon as a few weeks out. Though beloved by fans of the brand, many have expressed hesitation to buy at the higher price, saying that they’d wait for a more affordable version down the road.

Tesla sold almost 4,800 trucks in July, making it the best-selling vehicle in the over-$100,000 price range. Analysts believe that sustaining pace will be challenging with the Cybertruck’s six-figure price tag. The $61,000 version hasn’t yet been released, as it’s scheduled for a 2025 arrival.

Despite Musk’s claims, the automaker likely isn’t seeing the extreme demand it expected. Some in the industry have noted the company’s growing inventory of two- and three-motor trucks, with Tesla forced to stockpile unsold units near production facilities.

Outside of the price, the Cybertruck’s extremely polarizing styling and the growing backlash against Elon Musk’s politics haven’t helped its fortunes. The vehicles have become rolling memes that seem to attract every Tesla hater in a three-block radius, leaving only the most dedicated fans as motivated buyers.

[Images: Tesla]

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Chris Teague

Chris grew up in, under, and around cars, but took the long way around to becoming an automotive writer. After a career in technology consulting and a trip through business school, Chris began writing about the automotive industry as a way to reconnect with his passion and get behind the wheel of a new car every week. He focuses on taking complex industry stories and making them digestible by any reader. Just don’t expect him to stay away from high-mileage Porsches.

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4 of 62 comments

Varezhka on Aug 12, 2024
This is one of those fad cars where money is no object for those who want them and too polarizing to buy at any price for everyone else. No different from Hummers of the early 2000s. Since it's not a type of car with long staying power, Tesla should just jack up the price while they can and see how much the fan boy's wallet can bear.

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Npaladin2000 on Aug 12, 2024
Tesla should have stuck with cars and SUVs. They clearly don't know how to build a truck, so they settled for a fashion statement, which just won't have the same sustainable sales. Rivian's R1 sells because it's a good truck. It'd be a good truck if it had an engine in it, it just happens to have an electric motor and battery instead. Or the F150 Lightning, which, well, F150. Best selling car in American, just with an electric motor instead of an engine. Then you have the Cybertruck...my Maverick is more of a truck than the Cybertruck.

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- See 1 previous
- VoGhost on Aug 14, 2024
  We will not be tolerating lectures on what is a real truck from a Maverick owner.
  
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- Npaladin2000 on Aug 14, 2024
  @voGhost I sense Maverick envy. You must own a Cybertruck?
  
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