Tesla has stopped taking pre-orders for the cheaper version of its $61,000 Cybertruck, while making the $100,000 version available for immediate ordering and delivery as soon as this month, the company’s website said.
Demand and supply for the Cybertruck have been a major focus for Tesla investors and fans after CEO Elon Musk poured resources into its development and announced plans to ramp up production to 200,000 units a year.
In October, Musk announced that Tesla had received 1 million orders for the car.
Some customers have indicated they are waiting for the cheaper versions given the higher price and lower range than previously expected.
“This shows that demand is much lower than 1 million,” said Sam Abuelsamed, an analyst at Guidehouse Insights.
Cox Automotive said Tesla sold about 4,800 Cybertrucks in July, its best month yet, making it the best-selling vehicle over $100,000 in the United States.
“They’ve sold over 16,000 to date, but sustaining that number at this price will be a challenge,” a Cox spokesman said in an email.
The Cybertruck, which features an unconventional trapezoidal exterior inspired by the movie “Blade Runner” and a stainless steel body, will begin deliveries in November 2023 after years of delays and difficulties scaling up production.
Musk had predicted in 2019 that the car would sell for $40,000 and have a range of about 500 miles (800 km) on a single charge.
Tesla’s website no longer offers the option to buy the cheaper Cybertruck, which was previously offered with a range of 400 kilometers (250 miles) on a single charge and is due for delivery in 2025.
The $100,000 dual-motor version with a range of 511 kilometers (320 miles) is estimated to be delivered this month, while the roughly $120,000 three-motor version will be delivered starting in October.
“They have a large inventory of dual-motor and three-motor vehicles now,” Abu Al-Samed said.
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