Tesla
- The first Tesla Cybertruck deliveries happened on November 30.
- Tesla's CEO promised the new truck will redefine what a pickup can be.
Tesla delivered its long-awaited Cybertruck to the first group of customers in late November, marking a significant milestone for CEO Elon Musk as the company enters into the massively lucrative pickup truck market.
At a much-hyped event held at its Texas Gigafactory, near Austin, Tesla CEO Elon Musk arrived in the bed of one of the futuristic, high-tech trucks. Beyond the alien looks, he said, the new truck has power to out-race and out-tow many competitors, like Ford's F-150 Lightning, or sports cars like a Porsche 911.
"We have a car here that experts said was impossible, that experts said would never be made," Musk said at the event. "Finally, the future will look like the future."
How much does a Cybertruck cost?
More than expected.
A lingering detail left out of the flashy launch party was something many potential customers were waiting on: the Tesla's price range for Cybertruck.
The Cybertruck price will start at $60,990, well above the originally promised $40,000 that Musk teased when he first unveiled the truck in 2019. Here's how the models break down:
Rear-wheel drive: $66,990
The Cybertruck base model will come with rear-wheel drive and a 250-mile range, and won't be available until at least 2025, Tesla says. It'll go from 0 to 60 mph in 6.5 seconds and won't be available until 2025. It'll be available for 2024 delivery, Tesla says.
All-wheel drive: $79,990
The mid-tier model will come with 340 miles of range and a 4.1-second 0-to-60 mph acceleration, Tesla says. Its 600 horsepower will give the Cybertruck a top speed of 112 mph, 7,435 lb-feet of torque, and an 11,000-pound towing capacity.
Cyberbeast: $99,990
The top-of-the-line Cybertruck will run you nearly 100 grand and come with all the bells and whistles, like 320 miles of range, a 130-mph top speed, and a 0-60 acceleration of 2.6 seconds thanks to an 845-horsepower powertrain.
It also has an 11,000-pound towing capacity and will be available in 2024, Tesla says.
Refundable, $250 deposits for all three Cybertruck models are still open on Tesla's website.
When will the Cybertruck be available?
Tesla hasn't said much about which trim levels will be delivered when, and it appeared to be only the most expensive version that was delivered in November.
This is Tesla's first time building a truck, and it's using brand-new processes to do it.
Intensive processes coupled with expensive materials may spell another round of production hell for the company.
Musk has already hinted at difficulties similar to the production hell it faced with the Model 3, telling investors on the company's third-quarter earnings call: "We dug our own grave with Cybertruck."
"I just can't emphasize enough that manufacturing is much harder than the initial design," Musk continued on the October call.
For now, 2024 and 2025 are all we know.
What are the features of a Tesla Cybertruck?
Many of the Cybertruck's full features are still unknown, but many hinted at by Musk in the years ahead of its arrival were touted at the delivery event.
In videos, Tesla showed the Cybertruck outracing a Porsche 911 while towing the same car in a trailer. It also claimed it could out-tow its closest rival, Ford's F-150 Lightning.
The truck features steer-by-wire technology that allows the steering wheel's responsiveness to change alongside its speed for more nimble driving.
Rear-wheel steering will also allow the relatively large truck to fit into tight spots, like parking lots. An adaptive air suspension can vary between 12 and 17 inches of clearance for off-roading, Tesla says.
The Cybertruck's exoskeleton is made from ultra-hard stainless steel that's stamped as one main piece. Tesla says it will lead to fewer dents, less corrosion from weather, and easy repairs thanks to the lack of paint.
"The cool thing about repairing it is, because it is just a scratch finish, depending on how deep you go or whatever, you just get some Scotch bright and buff it out," Lars Moravy, Tesla's VP of vehicle engineering, told an early reviewer.
Shatter-resistant windows on the truck can withstand a baseball, as Musk was keen to point out at the event after a mishap at the truck's early unveiling that left it with an unsightly gash.
In the back, the Cybertruck's 6'4' bed has room for 67 cubic feet of gear stored underneath a locking cover, or an optional battery pack that can extend its range. It has a max payload of 2,500 pounds, Tesla says.
The bed also has power outlets, a common feature of many electric trucks on the market right now, that can be used for things like tools or camping equipment — or even to power your house.
Cybertruck interior
The Cybertruck's cockpit is rugged and sparse to echo its exterior but does come with some creature comforts. There is, of course, Tesla's usual large screen that controls most functions like lights, radio, and air-conditioning.
In the back, a smaller, 9.4" touchscreen is available for passengers, who will also benefit from a souped-up surround-sound system. Everyone will be able to take advantage of the full glass roof.
Like other Tesla models, the Cybertruck comes with "bioweapon defense mode" which features a HEPA filter that can come in handy for things like wildfires.
How long does it take to charge a Cybertruck?
Like all Tesla models, the Cybertruck will benefit from access to the company's massive network of Superchargers.
At a level-3 charger, the company's top speed currently, the truck can add 128 miles in 15 minutes with a 250kw max.
Tesla has said that the Cybertruck will use its new Mega Charger V4 technology and become the quickest-charging EV.
Depending on its battery size, that could mean a full charge in less than a half an hour, though details remain to be seen.