The Least expensive Tesla Cybertruck Is Useless

• Tesla has discontinued the most affordable Cybertruck mannequin, successfully elevating the barrier to entry by round 14%.
• Cybertruck AWD is now the most affordable variant at $79,990.
• The transfer may very well be half of a bigger reshuffle amid the EV tax credit score ending that additional separates Tesla’s premium choices from the remainder of its lineup.

Pour one out for the bargain-bin Cybertruck. After simply 5 months of orders, Tesla has eliminated the flexibility for homeowners to purchase the most affordable variant of the Cybertruck: the rear-wheel-drive mannequin.

The entry-level mannequin has as soon as once more turn out to be the AWD truck, successfully elevating the barrier to buy by $10,000 (14%). And whereas the AWD mannequin technically qualifies for the tax credit score—at the least for just a few extra weeks—the transfer possible will not assist considerably stimulate gross sales.

Picture by: Tesla

Apparently, Tesla realized that promoting a “funds” Cybertruck was quite a bit like a funds yacht; the compromises made it pointless.

The entry-level truck was already a Frankenstein of subtractions. It ditched the entrance motor, sacrificed each payload and towing scores, achieved a 51% slower zero-to-60 MPH time versus the AWD and even misplaced the tonneau cowl. The truck’s air suspension can also be axed, and it acquired 18″ wheels in comparison with the usual 20″ wheels on the AWD. Sacrifices have been additionally made to the inside—seats have been non-ventilated and coated in fabric, it had half the variety of audio system and it misplaced the rear display.

The Cybertruck hasn’t precisely been the success Tesla anticipated. It may very well be as a result of Tesla considerably missed the mark on promised value and efficiencyor as a result of its CEO has been criticized for political meddling (after which subsequently provided a pay package deal probably value a trillion {dollars}).

Maybe the transfer is to break down the modifications throughout fashions. Fewer modifications might imply a better margin—that is one of many strikes Tesla has used up to now to make meeting extra streamlined. It might then restrict options through software programseemingly a less expensive transfer than altering the manufacturing line steps.

Tesla has additionally been on a price-hike marketing campaign for its higher-priced fashions just lately. The Mannequin S and X each acquired a rise with the addition of the $10,000 obligatory “Luxe Package deal” that bundles in Full Self-Driving, Supercharging and Premium Connectivity—maybe this transfer is a brand new pricing technique that abandons affordability and creates a transparent separation between its premium choices and budget-friendly fashions.

Gross sales have additionally continued to dip throughout all of Tesla’s premium choices. Deliveries of “Different Fashions” (which embody the Cybertruck, Mannequin S, and Mannequin X) peaked in This autumn 2024. Since then, the gross sales have declined quarter-over-quarter, with Q2 2025 displaying a 66% drop within the supply of “Different Fashions” with simply 10,394 models.

The Cybertruck was as soon as projected to promote round 250,000 models per 12 months (Tesla later tapered that to 120,000 models yearly) and have over two million reservations. Now, the automaker can not seem to do away with them quick sufficient.

For almost the identical value, people occupied with a truck marketed extra in direction of doing truck stuff have the choice of choosing up opponents just like the $52,800 Chevy Silverado Work Truck or $54,780 Ford F-150 Lightning for lower than the $69,990 entry-level Cybertruck.

By trimming the fats, Tesla may very well be chopping manufacturing prices. It is nonetheless a far shot from the $39,990 that the world was promised, and that might imply Tesla is simply abandoning the budget-friendly choices for its higher-end vehicles.