CyberTruck low sale numbers

[JDin NFLA]

The $82k MSRP is the #1 barrier to entry for those interested in a Cybertruck.

With a median yearly income of $62k the Cybertruck is well beyond the reach of the average American.

Exactly. Only 31% can afford to buy a new car with avg selling price of 48k. When the average sales price jumps to over 80k the number who can afford plummets. Then add in % who want any EV. Becomes a small market. Look at any vehicle in the 80-100k price range none sell in large volumes.

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[TyPope]

Agree. I add ... I plan to keep my CT till the doors fall off ... and in about 2032, I HOPE to pull into Midas Magic EV Battery Replacers ... to pay $2000 dollars in labor to install a new tech $6000 battery for my CT that has an honest 1500 mile range. Yea ... a care-free 1500 mile range is laughably crazy right now ... but I would really like to be range care-free getting into and out of that remote camp site in eastern Montana. I respect that wrapped-up urban dwellers have no such interest ... and no range concerns.

It's funny you mentioned an ideal range. While this technology has just been proven (it's microwatts) and not fully built out, this shows what is possible.

Forever Range

Now, Imagine a battery that not only lasts the lifetime of the vehicle but one that would power your vehicle for 5,000 years without charging.


Imagine there's no plug in
It's easy if you try
No connections below us
Above us, only sky
Imagine all the people, driving all the day (ah)
Imagine there's no chargers
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to plugin or recharge
And no gas stations too
Imagine all the people, driving silently (yoo-hoo)
You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one

Apologies to John Lennon and the song writing community in total.

 

[TyPope]

I totally agree with everything you said, I do wish the bumpers weren't plastic thou!
Here in Md we had a once in ten year snow and ice event, and I had to back into a S charger where of course the the plows had to push the snow in front of the chargers. After it froze over night its just like backing into concrete. You don't think that was on purpose do ya!

Yeah, I lost a right rear aero when FSD pulled into my driveway and tried driving over that snowcrete.

 

[hemiarch]

Yeah, I lost a right rear aero when FSD pulled into my driveway and tried driving over that snowcrete.

Yeah. Removing those things is an essential mod.
Before I got the terrestrial armor I used this kit:
https://a.co/d/05j4Sci5
My recommendation is wait till you break one and then buy the kit instead of a replacement.
Leave the fronts on for aero till you break one of those too and then replace with the leftover parts of the kit.

 

[TyPope]

Yeah. Removing those things is an essential mod.
Before I got the terrestrial armor I used this kit:
https://a.co/d/05j4Sci5
My recommendation is wait till you break one and then buy the kit instead of a replacement.
Leave the fronts on for aero till you break one of those too and then replace with the leftover parts of the kit.

That's my plan moving forward. Thanks for saving me having to look up the link.

 

[Sjohnson20]

Exactly. Only 31% can afford to buy a new car with avg selling price of 48k. When the average sales price jumps to over 80k the number who can afford plummets. Then add in % who want any EV. Becomes a small market. Look at any vehicle in the 80-100k price range none sell in large volumes.

That is true. It's not only the fact that it's 80-100k then add in the smaller amount of buyers that are open to purchasing an EV.

 

[CyberGus]

Ohhh…… I just never based my truck purchase with anyone’s political beliefs. Just bought because I liked it? Never held a grudge against any car manufacturer due to their affiliation. Probably guarantee you could find some fault in history for any car manufacturer, but that never once came into play in my 40 years of vehicle purchasing.

Yes, except:

1. Tesla relies on word-of-mouth rather than spending on advertising, so the CEO’s antics have an outsized effect on public perception

2, Elon neglected Tesla while running DOGE. The company runs pretty well without his constant attention, but did anything suffer due to his absence? Probably unknowable, but I’d prefer he focus his energies on his products.

 

[mitch9]

I say enjoy your Cybertruck while you have it. There is no "smaller" version coming, and very likely NOTHING further coming from Tesla, for individuals to buy. They have pivoted to their Robotaxi fleet, and pretty much will be making vehicles for THEMSELVES to deploy. Selling to individual owners is, unfortunatley, in the rear view mirror. They will continue selling their existing vehicles, but essentialy there are no plans for anything new, other than completing the promise to the deposit holders of the Roadster 2. Tesla is likely going to be combined with SpaceX mid-year, after they go public, and theory is they will offer a premium to TSLA shareholders to ok the deal. Teslas future is Cyber vehicles, Optimus, Solar, Megapacks (energy division), a small market for the Semi, and AI chips, which will be designed into dedicated satellites that SpaceX will launch, for their "AI Data centers" orbiting the Earth initiative. Vehicles will continue to be less and less of Tesla's future focus, enjoy what you have now, as nothing is being designed to replace or upgrade it.

 

[Fugue]

AI chips, which will be designed into dedicated satellites that SpaceX will launch, for their "AI Data centers" orbiting the Earth initiative.

Now that will be a very resilient network.

 

[mitch9]

Now that will be a very resilient network.

"Elon: Go big or stay home"

https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/31/s...million-solar-powered-satellite-data-centers/

 

[Fugue]

"Elon: Go big or stay home"

https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/31/s...million-solar-powered-satellite-data-centers/

The company’s filing lays out a grandiose vision, not just describing these planned satellites as “the most efficient way to meet the accelerating demand for AI computing power” but also framing them as “a first step towards becoming a Kardashev II-level civilization — one that can harness the Sun’s full power” while also “ensuring humanity’s multi-planetary future amongst the stars.”

He's bringing the computing closer to the energy source. This kind of thinking is what makes him one of the greatest minds of our time, and consequently the richest.

 

[mitch9]

He's bringing the computing closer to the energy source. This kind of thinking is what makes him one of the greatest minds of our time, and consequently the richest.

Because the Earth bound data centers are already having "NIMBY" issues, can't get enough power, or cooling, and the neighbors are not fans of the noise.

In space, the solar panels can be kept pointed at the sun, while the opposite side faces earth for cooling & communications (it will be cold, and they will likely heat sink the chips to the "cold" side), they will likely relay through StarLink satellites to communicate initially. He has not disclosed the orbit for these, but unlikely to be Geosynchronus (too far away for real time data/linking together), but they will be in a higher orbit than StarLink initially, and may eventually replace StarLink altogether, as these are much more capable satellites, which are being designed now, for deployment via the StarShip, once it starts to be used on a regular basis.. Eventually the internet will be in Space orbiting the Earth, in these satellite data centers

as far as "too many" satellites, these are designed to have a decaying Orbit and burn up on re-entry, without leaving a lot of "space junk", he has already factored in the end of life disposal before they even launch... It will take an "AI" to manage and track the orbits of all of these satellites as well.

 

[Kaz109]

I like most reserved mine because I was promised 500mi of range at a 72k price point and when the specs were released I thought about not going through with it but the reality is they tried building this vehicle at the worst possible time.

I am 1000% sure the price of the truck went up because of the cost to build at the time. I remember during lock down I was working from home so I thought why not get a nice patio built like I had be saying I wanted for years. The lumber literally cost 10x the normal price so I can imagine Elon didn’t want to wait because he knew he had to capitalize on the interest of the vehicle after its debut.

Height is 2020 but I feel like Tesla would’ve made more money if they would’ve halted production and let the people who didn’t want away and cancel their order but still bring the product to market with the cost of the build would be cheaper. By pushing the timeline back and keeping the price that you have projected, I feel like they would’ve sold more trucks in the long run.

 

[AlDente]

I say enjoy your Cybertruck while you have it. There is no "smaller" version coming, and very likely NOTHING further coming from Tesla, for individuals to buy. They have pivoted to their Robotaxi fleet, and pretty much will be making vehicles for THEMSELVES to deploy. Selling to individual owners is, unfortunatley, in the rear view mirror. They will continue selling their existing vehicles, but essentialy there are no plans for anything new, other than completing the promise to the deposit holders of the Roadster 2. Tesla is likely going to be combined with SpaceX mid-year, after they go public, and theory is they will offer a premium to TSLA shareholders to ok the deal. Teslas future is Cyber vehicles, Optimus, Solar, Megapacks (energy division), a small market for the Semi, and AI chips, which will be designed into dedicated satellites that SpaceX will launch, for their "AI Data centers" orbiting the Earth initiative. Vehicles will continue to be less and less of Tesla's future focus, enjoy what you have now, as nothing is being designed to replace or upgrade it.

Frankly my dear, I don't give a damn said Rhett to Scarlett and me to you. But seriously, if the Cybertruck is discontinued in the future (but not before my March 3 delivery date) I really don't care. My Tesla's (4th one coming) have been service free, very reliable and fun to drive. Tesla will support parts for at least 7 years past discontinuance.

I'm not going to be drag racing or MOAB desert destroying along with the Raptors and that ilk. It will be driven conservatively, well cared for living in a garage and as such, it should last me a very long time.

I live in a benign climate area and so no weather challenges so I'm actually pragmatic about this buy decision. That said, I don't disagree with your prognostications and as a TSLA shareholder, I will be cheering that merger on should it happen.

 

[mitch9]

I too am a long term TSLA shareholder, and this is my 2nd Tesla.. I drove the wheels off the 2013 Model S, and I intend to do the same with the Cybertruck, it's really the only way to extra the value of your money from any vehicle. I was happy driving my ancient 2013 Model S, with only a back up camera, FSD is a game changer, I really do not drive any longer, I let it drive me, why not, it's a much better driver Very very likely Tesla is going to be absorbed by SpaceX, assuming the retail shareholders support Elon, and vote for it (which they have in the past).. they will be incentivized to do, by a small premium on TSLA shares, most likely. The institutions who complain that TSLA is "just a car company", I hope they sell and get out, and pass their shares onto retail, because it's going to be one helluva ride, no matter what happens.

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