San FranciscoTesla has stopped taking orders for the cheapest version of its Cybertruck, which is priced at $61,000, while the $100,000 version is available for immediate order and delivery as early as this month, its website showed.
Demand and supply of the Cybertruck are being closely watched by Tesla investors and followers, as CEO Elon Musk has invested resources in developing the truck and plans to manufacture 200,000 units per year.
In October, Musk said Tesla had 1 million reservations for the pickup. Some customers have indicated they are waiting for cheaper versions because prices are higher and driving ranges are lower than initially anticipated.
“This shows that demand is much lower than a million trucks,” Guidehouse Insights analyst Sam Abuelsamid told Reuters.
The Cybertruck sold nearly 4,800 units in July, its best month yet and making it by far the best-selling vehicle in the U.S. priced above $100,000, according to Cox Automotive.
“More than 16,000 units have been sold so far, but maintaining high volume at that price point will be a challenge,” a Cox spokesman said in an email.
Deliveries of the Cybertruck, which features an unconventional trapezoidal exterior design inspired by the Blade Runner movie and a stainless steel body, began in November 2023 after years of delays and a difficult production ramp-up.
Musk had estimated in 2019 that the vehicle would cost $40,000 and could travel 500 miles or more on a single charge.
Tesla’s website no longer offers the option to reserve a $61,000 version of the Cybertruck, which had previously been offered with a range of about 400 kilometers and delivery scheduled for 2025.
The limited-run, $99,990 dual-motor Foundation variant with a range of 328 miles (511 kilometers) is expected to go on sale later this month, while the $119,990 three-motor Foundation Cyberbeast with a range of 300 miles (484 kilometers) will be available in October.
“At the moment they have a large stock of two- and three-engine trucks,” says Abuelsamid.
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– 2024-08-14 00:42:12
