Tesla stops taking orders for cheapest Cybertruck, offers US$100,000 version now

SAN FRANCISCO: Tesla has stopped taking orders for the least expensive version of its Cybertruck, which is priced at US$61,000 (RM270,000), while making the US$100,000 (RM442,000) version available for immediate order and delivery as soon as this month, its website showed.

Demand and supply for the Cybertruck are closely monitored by Tesla investors and fans, because chief executive Elon Musk has poured resources into the truck's development and plans to make 200,000 per year.

As recently as October, Musk said Tesla had 1 million reservations for the truck. Some customers have indicated they are waiting for less expensive versions, because prices are higher and driving ranges lower than originally forecast.

"It shows that demand is a lot less than a million trucks," said Guidehouse Insights analyst Sam Abuelsamid.

Cybertruck sold nearly 4,800 units in July - its best month yet and making it by far the best-selling vehicle in the US priced over US$100,000, according to Cox Automotive.

"They have sold more than 16,000 so far, but sustained high volume at that price point will be a challenge," a Cox spokesperson said in an email.

Deliveries of the Cybertruck - which has an unconventional trapezoidal exterior design inspired by the "Blade Runner" movie and a stainless-steel body - began in November 2023 after years of delay and a difficult production ramp-up.

Musk in 2019 had estimated the truck would cost US$40,000 (RM177,000) and be able to travel 800km or more on a single charge.

Tesla's website no longer offers the option to reserve a US$61,000 version of the Cybertruck, which previously had been offered with a 250-mile range and a targeted 2025 delivery.

The US$99,990 dual-motor variant Foundation limited series with a 511km range is estimated to be delivered as early as this month while the US$119,990 (RM531,000) tri-motor Foundation Cyberbeast with a range of 484km is available from October.

"They're sitting on a lot of inventory of two-motor and three-motor trucks right now," Abuelsamid said.