Long Range RWD Cybertruck launched! 362 miles range w/ soft tonneau ($62,490 w/ tax credit)

[Outlaw1]

I came from a Chevy Colorado base model, had it for years but wanted an electric truck. I went with the DM based on original specs for 300+ mile range and the other features mentioned during the unveil event. I didn't know about all the other cool things I would get.

Think about it from the perspective of a new buyer. If I were still the Colorado owner from before, the LR CT stacks up well. With my Colorado, I had:

2WD
Coil suspension
Backup camera only
Under rear seat storage
A soft tonneau I installed
I got real world 21 mpg
I had a small dent in the rear from bumping it with a sink I was moving. Just a light bump caused the dent and scratched the paint
I had cloth seats
Towing was 3,500 lbs, bigger engine would have been 7,000 lbs
No heated seats = gain w/ LR CT
No sentry mode = gain w/ LR CT
No armor glass = gain w/ LR CT
No frunk = gain w/ LR CT
No SBW = gain w/ LR CT
No Rear wheel steering = gain w/ LR CT
No rear screen (so I wouldn't be losing that, I never had it)
No outlets or ability to power things via a mobile connector = gain w/ LR CT
No in truck entertainment = gain w/ LR CT

That would be the experience I was coming from. I wouldn't feel like I am losing any features with the LR CT. I would be gaining features. A similar Colorado today would be between $40 - $50k. The LR CT with tax break and gas saving is $56k.

And still fits in my garage. Not bad.

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[Friday]

It still has the Tesla Brain of all models of Cybertruck and the steer-by-wire and 4 wheel steering. The things that "hook" a non EV person when test driving are those things alone when I've let them try out my CB.

 

[YDR37]

The barebones RWD was a misstep. It chips away at the “halo effect” by cutting key features that made CT iconic.

Tesla sales aren't growing right now. They dipped slightly from 2023 to 2024, and they aren't recovering as of 1Q 2025. So Tesla probably wants to boost sales. One obvious way to boost sales is to lower prices, and one obvious way to lower prices is to cut features.

So Tesla has introduced a less expensive, stripped-down RWD Cybertruck. They have also introduced a less expensive, stripped-down RWD Model 3 in Mexico, which may be headed for the rest of the world soon. In addition, Tesla is reportedly developing a less expensive, stripped-down RWD Model Y. So there could be a whole lineup of "barebones" RWD models coming to your local Tesla store in the future.

The strategy makes sense, but it does have the potential to "chip away" at Tesla's brand image. For example, current Teslas have a deserved reputation for great sound systems. But the sound systems are clearly downgraded on the barebones versions, and there has to be some degradation of audio quality.

Traditional auto manufacturers like to differentiate their standard/premium products as separate brands: Chevrolet/Cadillac, Ford/Lincoln, Toyota/Lexus, Honda/Acura, Hyundai/Genesis etc. Tesla doesn't play that game, but maybe they should consider it. From a brand reputation standpoint, it might make sense to create a separate brand or sub-brand to distinguish the premium Teslas from the cheaper, stripped-down "Less-las".

 

[LexusCyber]

We all expect Tesla to be different but not cheap. US is not Mexico and the severe lack of customization features. It’s already prevalent with Tesla. while I recognize the core technological value, u want to feel good about your car reflecting your personality.... right now Tesla lacks on that.

 

[ricinro]

Perhaps Tesla will rethink the electric pickup and design something more affordable and real world tested. CT was a mistake from its conception: Elon was fixed on his vision and he clearly is not qualified to do design or the child that suggested that a truck should look like the future. As it turns out, the future does not look like the cybertruck. The first clue was the omission of wipers in the prototype and the wipers are still problematic. Ballistic SS panels that were promised to be structural ended up being facade and glued leading to a recall that didn't fix the design. The casting, while a great idea, are aluminum and likely not appropriate for long term truck abuse due to aluminum being prone to metal fatigue.
Too many compromises and too expensive. Tesla will do better next time.

 

[xmario]

Cyberbeast has a Cerberus emblem.
AWD doesn’t have any identifiable features.

I think RWD needs something identifiable where the Cerberus emblem is.

Ninja Turltle head?

 

[YDR37]

Perhaps Tesla will rethink the electric pickup and design something more affordable and real world tested ... Too many compromises and too expensive. Tesla will do better next time.

Elon knew it was a gamble. He discussed the possibility of a redesign in August 2020, while the Cybertruck was still in development:

Elon Musk Is Rethinking Tesla Cybertruck as Electric Pickup Race Accelerates

In a new interview with Automotive News this week Musk said he’s okay with making a “normal truck” if the Cybertruck doesn’t sell, especially in overseas markets where consumers don’t necessarily share Americans’ obsession with pickups.

“If it turns out nobody wants to buy a weird-looking truck, we’ll build a normal truck, no problem,” he told the publication, adding that he realized the Cybertruck could be “a complete failure.”

With a starting price tag of $39,900, the Cybertruck is aiming for a mass market ... Musk said in his latest interview that Tesla plans to begin producing the Cybertruck next year and start delivery in the second half of 2021.

But here's the question: would a "normal" Tesla truck actually sell better? After all, the F-150 Lightning is about as "normal" and familiar-looking as an EV truck could possibly be, and it hasn't been a hit for Ford.

 

[xmario]

This is all very confusing to me. The beast cost $99,990 and with AWD you get one less motor and it costs $79,990. Now the RWD has one less motor than AWD and should cost $59,990 without even counting all the down grades. Am I missing something?

You are not missing anything. Tesla is!
RWD will go down to the initially announced 60K after they collect the cream on top: 6-12 mos max especially at the rate they are stock piling.

 

[YDR37]

But here's the question: would a "normal" Tesla truck actually sell better? After all, the F-150 Lightning is about as "normal" and familiar-looking as an EV truck could possibly be, and it hasn't been a hit for Ford.

I actually think that Tesla would sell more EV trucks if they competed in the smaller pickup market against Tacoma, Ranger, or Maverick (rather than in the full-sized truck market against F-150, Silverado, or Ram). Basically just offer a modified Model 3/Y with a bed, something like the famous custom "Truckla":



You may laugh, but the sales of compact and mid-sized pickups are far higher than those of the Cybertruck. And the owners of small pickups tend to be younger, more urban/suburban, and more open to EVs than the owners of full-sized pickups.

 

[Killlbox]

Ninja Turltle head?

YES!!!

Although as a child of the 90s my husband would probably order one if it had that ??

 

[Mal]

It still has the Tesla Brain of all models of Cybertruck and the steer-by-wire and 4 wheel steering. The things that "hook" a non EV person when test driving are those things alone when I've let them try out my CB.

Agree with you. There is no other $64k truck capable of DRIVING ITSELF. Once people realize what a game changer FSD is (ok, will be), a premium over other ICE trucks won't seem as high because it'll become a must-have feature.

I mean, there is nothing like the freedom of holding your Egg McMuffin in one hand with your coffee in the other while the truck deals with traffic on the way to the <jobsite/lumber yard/dump/mall/soccer game/flea market>.

[disclaimer: I keep my third hand available to take over in the event of emergency]

 

[Outlaw1]

You are not missing anything. Tesla is!
RWD will go down to the initially announced 60K after they collect the cream on top: 6-12 mos max especially at the rate they are stock piling.

There also isn't a truck on the market at that price. They even have less range.

And what's the margin on the truck keeping the battery pack the same size? Not sure how much they are willing to go down. But the EV truck market isn't demanding the lower prices now from a competitive perspective.

 

[Gigahorse]

Agree with you. There is no other $64k truck capable of DRIVING ITSELF. Once people realize what a game changer FSD is (ok, will be), a premium over other ICE trucks won't seem as high because it'll become a must-have feature.

I mean, there is nothing like the freedom of holding your Egg McMuffin in one hand with your coffee in the other while the truck deals with traffic on the way to the <jobsite/lumber yard/dump/mall/soccer game/flea market>.

[disclaimer: I keep my third hand available to take over in the event of emergency]

In fairness there is no truck that can drive itself.
With the timeline of FSD and promises made I think Tesla/Elon have until the end of 2025 to show some light at the end of the tunnel for unsupervised. The calls of "vaporware" are already getting louder and while FSD SUPERVISED is very nice on the highway, how much would someone have to pay you to put on a pair of sunglasses with open eyes on each but blindfolded underneath and drive you and your kids to soccer practice?
For me it would be a lot.

Tesla 100% has to get CT numbers up this year or it will become a fringe vehicle like the X and S

 

[freyguy]

In fairness there is no truck that can drive itself.
With the timeline of FSD and promises made I think Tesla/Elon have until the end of 2025 to show some light at the end of the tunnel for unsupervised. The calls of "vaporware" are already getting louder and while FSD SUPERVISED is very nice on the highway, how much would someone have to pay you to put on a pair of sunglasses with open eyes on each but blindfolded underneath and drive you and your kids to soccer practice?
For me it would be a lot.

Tesla 100% has to get CT numbers up this year or it will become a fringe vehicle like the X and S

I did see where the early access to new FSD versions is being pushed out geographically. More so Texas which makes sense for robotic and fully unsupervised FSD.

while I would love unsupervised to be here already I am just hoping we soon get A.S.S

I have it on my model y and it’s a nice feature for rainy days or when you park in the back of a big parking lot. I honestly didn’t know it wasn’t enabled on cybertruck till I was leaving the gym it was raining and I tried to summon.

I was disappointed and wet and cold ?

it’s more than a party trick ass really does have some benefits.

 

[Mal]

In fairness there is no truck that can drive itself.
With the timeline of FSD and promises made I think Tesla/Elon have until the end of 2025 to show some light at the end of the tunnel for unsupervised. The calls of "vaporware" are already getting louder and while FSD SUPERVISED is very nice on the highway, how much would someone have to pay you to put on a pair of sunglasses with open eyes on each but blindfolded underneath and drive you and your kids to soccer practice?
For me it would be a lot.

Well, that's why I said "FSD will be". I know Elon's been promising it for years, but (I believe) v12 was the first version to incorporate the neural networks, and v13 was the first to do it 'end to end'. So, looking at it that way, they've only been at this approach for ~2 years. Since I use FSD every day (not blindfolded yet, though, agreed), I'm optimistic it'll keep improving.

In the meantime, I literally did the two handed McDonald's thing this morning on the way back from Home Depot to my house.

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