Tesla CEO Elon Musk has acknowledged that the Cybertruck, while an excellent pickup truck, needs to be made more affordable, according to CarBuzz. Musk did not specify the exact measures to achieve this, but Tesla aims to ramp up deliveries to 250,000 units next year. The current price range for the Cybertruck is from $57,400 for the base model to $96,390 for the tri-motor Cyberbeast, which can accelerate to 60 mph in 2.6 seconds. Buyers placing orders now will receive their vehicles only in 2025, with fewer than 9,000 units delivered in Q2 2023. In comparison, the most expensive Tesla Model Y, which is produced in much larger quantities, is priced at $38,000 in the US.
One possible way to reduce costs is through battery upgrades. Tesla is working on a new type of battery cell that could lower battery costs, but the Cybertruck is unlikely to receive these until late 2024. Musk noted that efforts to reduce the price of the electric truck will continue over the next few years.
The popularity of the Cybertruck may also be affected by numerous reports of poor build quality. Tesla has acknowledged some issues, launching two service campaigns at the end of June to address potential problems with the windshield wiper mechanism and detaching body panels.