Tesla is buffing out Foundation Series badging for non FS resale

[Mini2nut]

Hey, I love the Cybertruck and hope to become an owner next year. I am still hanging on to my 2nd day $39,900 RWD reservation.

I never purchase the first year of a brand new platform so the manufacturer can iron out most of the hardware/software bugs. They are inevitable in auto manufacturing.

I just find these negative CT articles very interesting.

Buffing out laser engraved FS badging is a clever move to dump unsold FS inventory before the year comes to an end and get them off the balance sheet.

Sponsored

 

[HaulingAss]

I just find these negative CT articles very interesting.

 

[dalton108]

Given the problematic roll out of the Cybertruck, buffing out the Foundation Series logo will probable be a good idea when it's time to sell your Cybertruck. Now if you have one of the first hundred produced with no miles and mint condition I'd leave the logo.

You realize that Tesla (if this is actually true) can both buff out the logo and re-flash the firmware so that it doesn’t display that it’s a Foundation Series truck? You can’t do that. My truck will always be a Foundation Series.

 

[tingmo13]

Tell that to their year over year sales growth.

Either way, it's irrelevant to journalists divesting in the companies they're covering.

-Crissa

journalist is another human being-if they don't know how to manage their Emotion-unbias reporting is impossible. They too can get stuck in the rabbit hole.

 

[MXSD]

I mean it would still have the lettering on the dash though

 

[mbdsb]

This discussion seems to be missing a few points:
- The VIN will be the same. People can figure it out whether or not it's a FS truck.
- Model 3 and Model Y sold for years without any big update. There doesn't seem to be any big CT update imminent.
- As long as they (Tesla) address the early problems with appropriate fixes, who cares? Even the recent non-FS VINs have the stupid rivet in the pedal. It's the same truck. FS buyers paid for early acquisition and a bunch of extras. Some of them had to deal with early issues (thanks, y'all!). As long as the new buyers have fully functional vehicles with the full warranty, it seems like an acceptable arrangement.

Even with the lingering stock, they sold a lot of these trucks. Way more than the Delorean ever sold, more than other contemporary EV trucks-- it's far from a failure. Maybe demand will peter out. Or maybe it will be a slow burn as people get used to it and appreciate it for what the product is. Either way, it already avoided the failure outcome. It is objectively some measure of success.

I don't really care. I sold my Tesla shares a long time ago (I lucked out on timing, and got out when it leveled out). I just like the product for what it is. I disagree with Musk on a lot of things, and I also appreciate the product the designers and engineers at Tesla made. I'm not alone.

 

[CTInProcess]

You realize that Tesla (if this is actually true) can both buff out the logo and re-flash the firmware so that it doesn’t display that it’s a Foundation Series truck? You can’t do that. My truck will always be a Foundation Series.

Until Tesla gives you a software update that says it isn’t ?

 

[DfibRL8R]

I don't really care. I sold my Tesla shares a long time ago (I lucked out on timing, and got out when it leveled out).

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but...

 

[rudedawg78]

 

[BannedByTMC]

The VIN will be the same. People can figure it out whether or not it's a FS truck.

These will be the most valuable, the "Stealth" Foundation series.

 

[HaulingAss]

These will be the most valuable, the "Stealth" Foundation series.

They will all sell for about the same price, because they are all basically the same truck once you normalize for FSD/no FSD, Premium Connectivity/no Premium Connectivity, wheel and tire variations, and included accessories. The model year and mileage, combined with condition and location, are the biggest factors affecting resale, not whether it has a Foundation Series badge or not.

 

[GatorCyber]

Being a car forum, most users likely only look at the car and # of sales but Tesla the company has been between growth curves.

Tesla Energy will double this year, and Shanghai Megapactory will open next quarter and double current megapack capacity. FSD has made huge steps and removed all my doubts (as an early user since 11/2021). Semi factory is under roof and will be rolling out Semi by end of 2025, ramping to 50k/year. Two new smaller models come out first half 2025 built on existing upgraded 3/Y lines with some of the unboxed . 3/Y robotaxi's in Tx and Cali second half 2025. Cybercab in 2026. 1,000 Optimus in 2025 in the factories, and volume production of gen3 in 2026. I believe they have the second largest supercomputer behind xAi. (50k h100 GPUs vs 100k H100 GPUs). The CEO is the shadow Sec of State and 1st buddy, and the right loves CT now. Also xAi did what no one thought possible and in record time with putting 100k H100 together. So guess who will always get the latest Nvidia chips first?!

This is all taken from the last quarter earnings call and shareholder deck.

 

[Mini2nut]

Will $80k “FS“ buyers still get the 35” premium wheels and tires? Interior badging on the dash? The FS storage console on the floor? Hold down cleats in the bed, etc?

 

[HaulingAss]

Will $80k “FS“ buyers still get the 35” premium wheels and tires? Interior badging on the dash? The FS storage console on the floor?

Yeah, we don't even know whether the story is true to begin with. I mean, it came from Electrek and was written by the cretin Fred Lambert himself.

If there's any kernel of truth to the story, it's probably that Tesla has instructed delivery centers to not ship a new non-Foundation to fill an order if they have a Foundation Series in stock and unspoken for. Just sand off the laser etching and install non-Foundation software. But even that seems non-optimal compared to just shipping one with the less expensive wheels and no laser engraving expense.

It could also be a contingency plan to get inventory as close to zero as possible by December 31st. (because it's impossible to have all the right configurations, in all the right locations, at the right times). In any case, I don't think it means what Fred Lambert pretends it means.

Time will tell but I think 2025 is going to be a BIG year for Cybertruck sales.

 

[Mini2nut]

Yes, and the Cybertrunnel should be operational in 2025.

Sponsored