Rivian and Ford have wreaked havoc in its absence and taken over the niche electric pickup market. Which begs the question: When will the Cybertruck come to market, and how much will it cost?
What Is So Impressive About the Tesla Cybertruck?
The Tesla Cybertruck wowed the world when it was introduced by Elon Musk, even if the introduction didn’t go quite according to plan. The Cybertruck was supposed to feature armored windows, which would be impervious to the metal objects launched directly at them. But, a major fail occurred on stage the day the Cybertruck was introduced. The glass cracked, and Elon looked ready to fire a lot of people.
However, in true Tesla fashion, the fiasco magnified the hype surrounding the Cybertruck.
Memes began to rain, and the press went crazy. The only thing anyone talked about the next day was the Cybertruck and the fact that it had a small window problem. But, the truck also got tons of attention, deservedly so. The Cybertruck was (and still is) unlike anything we’d ever seen. The shape was straight out of a science fiction movie, and the performance numbers the truck promised were also absolutely astounding.
The Tesla Cybertruck Promises Phenomenal Performance
If you visit Tesla’s official Cybertruck page, the first thing you’ll see is the Cybertruck slogan.
Ignoring Tesla’s disdain for commas, what they were promising was unheard of at that time, with performance ratings comparable to high-performance EV models. The Cybertruck offered immense performance figures that could rival Ferraris and Lamborghinis while towing massive weight and delivering crazy payload capacity.
The Cybertruck even had a custom-built ATV that could be charged directly from the EV pickup truck. The naming convention was truly Tesla, as the ATV was called the Cyberquad. But, a long time passed with barely a hint of the Cybertruck’s release. The Cybertruck’s stats are something to behold, especially in the context of when it was first introduced. Tesla promises 3500 lbs of payload capacity and an insane 14,000+ lbs of towing capacity. These numbers are incredible enough for any vehicle, but it’s truly incredible when you consider that the Cybertruck is also supposed to accelerate to 60 mph in 2.9 seconds.
Is the Cybertruck Better Than the Rivian R1T?
The Cybertruck shouldn’t be able to go that fast and tow that much. Well, that’s what everybody thought. Enter the amazing Rivian R1T. To say the R1T has stolen some of the Cybertruck’s thunder would be the understatement of the century. First, the Rivian can be configured to tow a ridiculous amount of weight, 11,000 lbs to be exact. Not only this but the Rivian can also be optioned to accelerate to 60 mph in ~3 seconds. If this seems like a declaration of war on the part of Rivian, it’s really not. You see, the Rivian actually exists.
Tesla promised the craziest stats in the world mixed with amazing utility—but Rivian delivered all of this in a truck you can actually see cruising around in the real world. After the launch of the Rivian, with its quad-motor AWD, the crazy numbers that the Cybertruck promised don’t seem that crazy anymore. It will be interesting to see if Tesla alters these numbers and delivers something even crazier that destroys the R1T.
When Will the Cybertruck Go on Sale?
This is a very good question. Of course, with Tesla, you really can’t bet on anything being certain in terms of product releases. But, recently, there has been renewed optimism that the Cybertruck will go on sale sometime in 2023. At Tesla’s annual shareholder meeting (see the video below) at the company’s new Gigafactory in Austin, TX, Musk promised a mid-2023 launch for the Tesla Cybertruck while stating that production would begin at the Austin factory.
If Elon is right, the Cybertruck will definitely arrive to a lot of fanfare when it finally debuts next year. The only problem is that the immense hype surrounding the truck has died down. Regardless, Tesla really knows how to hype a product better than most companies.
How Much Will the Cybertruck Cost?
The Cybertruck was originally supposed to be an affordable electric pickup truck for the masses. However, this always seemed a bit farfetched, especially considering that the Cybertruck was made of stainless steel and featured armored glass. Not only this, but the Cybertruck also featured unique styling and enormous off-road wheels. Air suspension was also standard, even on the single motor variant.
This is without mentioning the insane performance figures the Cybertruck was touting at launch. Regardless, according to Kelly Blue Book, the Cybertruck was originally supposed to go on sale in three price tiers. The single motor variant would cost $39,900. The dual motor version of the futuristic EV pickup truck was priced at $49,900. The most expensive Cybertruck (the tri-motor variant) was supposed to command $69,900.
The Cybertruck is an absolute steal at these prices, especially if you compare the Cybertrucks performance figures to the other electric pickup trucks currently on sale. But, it’s highly unlikely that the Cybertruck will sell for these prices once it goes on sale. Again speaking at the annual shareholder meeting, Elon Musk stated that the price of the Cybertruck will change, as will the specifications. Realistically, a $39,900 version of the Cybertruck doesn’t seem likely.
All Signs Point to a 2023 Release for the Tesla Cybertruck
The Cybertruck is one of the most anticipated products ever. Hopefully, Tesla can sort out the preparations needed to get Cybertruck production rolling in 2023.
