‘Over 1 Million’ People Wanted a Cybertruck. Where Are They?

[Sherminator98]

https://www.wired.com/story/where-did-the-one-million-people-who-wanted-a-cybertruck-go/

[Rick73]

Elon Musk: “We dug our own grave with the Cybertruck”

 

Perhaps most prophetic he’s ever been.  And who thinks reservations mean anything tangible?

[GearheadGrrrl]

IIRC F150 EV reservations vaporized in a similar manner. Looks like many customers made reservations for several brands of EV vaporware and then bought the one that was actually realized in 3D first or just plain lost interest...

[akirby]

38 minutes ago, GearheadGrrrl said:

IIRC F150 EV reservations vaporized in a similar manner. Looks like many customers made reservations for several brands of EV vaporware and then bought the one that was actually realized in 3D first or just plain lost interest...

They lost interest when the base price jumped from $40k to $50k and higher.

[sullynd]

1 hour ago, akirby said:

They lost interest when the base price jumped from $40k to $50k and higher.

I think it’s a bit like playing the lottery too - when I play (which is rare) I figure I’m paying for the thoughts of what I’d do if I won - never expecting to win. $100 is low hanging fruit, especially when refundable. Free bragging rights too. “Hey, akirby, guess what - I put a deposit down on a cybertruck!” With many probably never fully intending on buying the vehicle. 

[Motorpsychology]

18 hours ago, sullynd said:

I think it’s a bit like playing the lottery too - when I play (which is rare) I figure I’m paying for the thoughts of what I’d do if I won - never expecting to win. $100 is low hanging fruit, especially when refundable. Free bragging rights too. “Hey, akirby, guess what - I put a deposit down on a cybertruck!” With many probably never fully intending on buying the vehicle. 

A refundable deposit is not any better indicator of intent than an Internet poll. Until the deposit is cashed do you have intent. 

[jpd80]

On 3/27/2025 at 4:13 AM, akirby said:

They lost interest when the base price jumped from $40k to $50k and higher.

Remember how certain types got all twisted up when someone would call Cybertruck a novelty item?
It might be fantastic but nobody really wants it anymore and I don’t think it can be sold in Europe either.

 

Lightning may have its faults but I have a feeling that it will outlive Cybertruck 

[blazerdude20]

On 4/8/2025 at 6:02 AM, jpd80 said:

Remember how certain types got all twisted up when someone would call Cybertruck a novelty item?
It might be fantastic but nobody really wants it anymore and I don’t think it can be sold in Europe either.

 

Lightning may have its faults but I have a feeling that it will outlive Cybertruck 

The cyber truck also had a suggested range of 500 miles (IIRC) when it debuted. That peaked a lot of interest. In the end it’s ~300 just like the Lightning and any other EV these days. 
 

I put a deposit down for the range promise. It didn’t materialize, so no more desire to have one. 
 

I still think they could adapt the Y bones into a smaller truck (Maverick sized) and it would be pretty successful. 

[Rick73]

Tesla is finally offering a decontented RWD Cybertruck at a lower price but seems too little too late given how much is missing to reduce cost; not to mention CT has bigger problems than price alone.  This move though hints at what Tesla may do towards offering more affordable cars, like a stripped down model 3 or Y.  Problem is that decontenting doesn’t save as much as most people think.

 

https://www.teslarati.com/tesla-released-cybertruck-rwd-to-make-awd-look-like-a-deal/

 

Article links a list of differences listed by some guy on X, and it’s pretty long.  Don’t know if it’s accurate.

 

Here's everything the new Cybertruck Long Range RWD loses vs the Long Range AWD trim:

 

• No HEPA filter

• No air suspension (adaptive coil spring suspension)

• No rear light bar

• Standard bed with no tonneau cover included. Upgradeable to $750 soft tonneau (pictured below). This soft cover increases range to 363 miles (from 350)

• Textile seats (vs vegan leather on AWD trim)

• Headlights without signature lamps

• Standard bed lamps (vs premium lights on AWD)

• No L-track in bed

• No 2x 120V, 1x 240V outlets in the bed

• No 2x 120V outlets in the cabin

• No heated rear seats & no ventilated front seats

• Standard center console with no second row screen

• 7 speaker audio (vs 15 speakers on AWD trim)

• No active noise cancellation

• No mechanical front locking diff (due to only single motor)

• Lower 2,007 lbs payload (vs 2,500 on AWD trim)

• Lower 7,500 lbs towing capacity (vs 11k on AWD trim)

[Motorpsychology]

the Domo of DOGE bites his own tail

[blazerdude20]

12 hours ago, Rick73 said:

Tesla is finally offering a decontented RWD Cybertruck at a lower price but seems too little too late given how much is missing to reduce cost; not to mention CT has bigger problems than price alone.  This move though hints at what Tesla may do towards offering more affordable cars, like a stripped down model 3 or Y.  Problem is that decontenting doesn’t save as much as most people think.

 

https://www.teslarati.com/tesla-released-cybertruck-rwd-to-make-awd-look-like-a-deal/

 

Article links a list of differences listed by some guy on X, and it’s pretty long.  Don’t know if it’s accurate.

 

Here's everything the new Cybertruck Long Range RWD loses vs the Long Range AWD trim:

 

• No HEPA filter

• No air suspension (adaptive coil spring suspension)

• No rear light bar

• Standard bed with no tonneau cover included. Upgradeable to $750 soft tonneau (pictured below). This soft cover increases range to 363 miles (from 350)

• Textile seats (vs vegan leather on AWD trim)

• Headlights without signature lamps

• Standard bed lamps (vs premium lights on AWD)

• No L-track in bed

• No 2x 120V, 1x 240V outlets in the bed

• No 2x 120V outlets in the cabin

• No heated rear seats & no ventilated front seats

• Standard center console with no second row screen

• 7 speaker audio (vs 15 speakers on AWD trim)

• No active noise cancellation

• No mechanical front locking diff (due to only single motor)

• Lower 2,007 lbs payload (vs 2,500 on AWD trim)

• Lower 7,500 lbs towing capacity (vs 11k on AWD trim)

I mean this is effectively the same thing as buying a lightning pro work model versus a Lariat. There won’t be a huge market for it, but there likely will be some interest on price alone. 

[Rick73]

11 hours ago, blazerdude20 said:

I mean this is effectively the same thing as buying a lightning pro work model versus a Lariat. There won’t be a huge market for it, but there likely will be some interest on price alone. 

Lower price alone may not offset Musk turning himself into the lightning rod that has severely damaged the Tesla brand, if not destroyed it.  Not sure a +/- 15% lower price will save the Cybertruck given sales have been low compared to original estimates, leading to underutilized manufacturing capacity.  We’ll known more in a week or so when first quarter Tesla results are released April 22; though we may not see the magnitude of the problem clearly for at least another quarter.

 

In my opinion many of the deleted features make sense in order to offer a more affordable truck, except for deleting 120 and 240 VAC power, especially from the bed, which seems a bit extreme for an electric truck.  Whether it’s to go camping off the grid or power lights at home during a power outage, lack of electricity may be a deal breaker for that type of vehicle.  The similar Ford Pro Power Onboard feature is very popular because it’s actually useful.

 

Anyway, CT may be a prime example where swinging for the fences led to a strike out.  Musk getting involved in politics may be another for Tesla.  I know Musk is scheduled to leave Washington during second quarter, but damage already done to Tesla brand may not be reversible.  It’s hard to ignore the possibility when some of the most loyal Tesla fans are now angry and vocal.

[Sherminator98]

22 hours ago, Rick73 said:

Anyway, CT may be a prime example where swinging for the fences led to a strike out.  Musk getting involved in politics may be another for Tesla.  I know Musk is scheduled to leave Washington during second quarter, but damage already done to Tesla brand may not be reversible.  It’s hard to ignore the possibility when some of the most loyal Tesla fans are now angry and vocal.

Also keep in mind some of those same people who are angry and vocal about Tesla are nothing more then people who want everything to be about them-they go from claiming to savings the environment or whatever to putting stickers on their cars saying they bought it be Elon went crazy in their eyes. All because of how they want to be perceived 

[rmc523]

On 4/11/2025 at 1:32 AM, blazerdude20 said:

The cyber truck also had a suggested range of 500 miles (IIRC) when it debuted. That peaked a lot of interest. In the end it’s ~300 just like the Lightning and any other EV these days. 
 

I put a deposit down for the range promise. It didn’t materialize, so no more desire to have one. 
 

I still think they could adapt the Y bones into a smaller truck (Maverick sized) and it would be pretty successful. 

 

with a better/more normal design maybe...

 

On 4/13/2025 at 10:01 PM, blazerdude20 said:

I mean this is effectively the same thing as buying a lightning pro work model versus a Lariat. There won’t be a huge market for it, but there likely will be some interest on price alone. 

 

Eh, it also has to overcome its bizarre design, which is only going to appeal to a limited market.

[Rick73]

Annual rate of roughly 25,000 Cybertrucks is much lower than expected.  Some workers are reportedly being moved to Model Y line.  Not really much of a surprise.  Will be interesting to see if they completely redesign the CT or just let it die.

 

“Tesla drops Cybertruck production targets and moves some workers off the line“.

 

“During the first three months of 2025, Tesla sold 6,406 Cybertrucks — half that of the previous quarter, according to an estimate from Cox Automotive. Before the truck's release, Musk said Tesla had more than a million reservations for the vehicle. To date, it has delivered fewer than 50,000 Cybertrucks, according to a March 20 recall.”

[rmc523]

Making such a controversial looking vehicle, it was never bound to have sales at what they were projecting.