It Didn't Last Long
Tesla has discontinued the least-expensive version of the Cybertruck just a few months after launching it, effectively giving the slow-selling electric pickup a big price hike. In April, Tesla added a rear-wheel drive Long Range model to the lineup alongside the All-Wheel Drive and Cyberbeast variants. But as of Monday, the rear-wheel drive Cybertruck is no longer listed in the automaker's online configurator.
Tesla does not have a functional public relations department, and does not regularly communicate product news, so this is as much confirmation as we're going to get that the Cybertruck base model is no more. That also means that no official reason was given for the change, and it's unclear if Tesla has a replacement planned for this model.
No-Frills Model
The single-motor rear-wheel drive variant had an estimated 350 miles of range, a 7,500-pound towing capacity, and could do zero to 60 mph in 6.2 seconds, according to Tesla. That's compared to 325 miles, 11,000 pounds, and 4.1 seconds for the dual-motor Cybertruck that is now the de facto base model.
In addition to trading speed and towing capability for a slight bump in range, the rear-wheel drive Cybertruck lacked a lot of the features available on all-wheel drive models. It didn't have active air suspension, the motorized tonneau cover, or in-bed power outlets.
However, the rear-wheel drive Cybertruck was substantially cheaper. It started at $69,990 before destination, compared to $79,990 for the dual-motor model and $114,990 for the tri-motor Cyberbeast. So Tesla's pickup effectively just got $10,000 more expensive, and now costs more than a base Rivian R1T.
Tesla's Problem Child
The hype around the Tesla Cybertruck seems to have finally dissipated. Tesla unveiled a concept version in 2019, but managed to maintain interest until a production version was ready in late 2023. At that time, Tesla said it had a million reservations for the stainless-steel EV, and had planned for production of up to 250,000 units a year. But it only delivered a fraction of that in 2024—the first full year of Cybertruck production—and is unlikely to exceed that in 2025.
That's likely due to several factors. The Tesla magic can't overcome the reality that the Cybertruck isn't a very practical pickup, and is quite expensive compared to most other automakers' offerings. The Cybertruck has also proven to be a problem child, with eight recalls ranging from trapped accelerator pedals to inverter failure. The Tesla brand itself has also been tarnished by CEO Elon Musk's political actions, and has seen sales stagnate across the board.
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