Tesla’s Cybertruck is available starting 2024: What to know

Four years after the company announced its plans to crack the American pickup market, the Tesla Cybertruck is ready to hit the road — as about a dozen people had their trucks delivered at an event at the company’s headquarters in Austin, Texas.

How to preorder your Tesla Cybertruck

The angular pickup can be preordered on Tesla’s website with a refundable deposit of $250.

It lets you pick between the rear-wheel drive, all-wheel drive, and the ludicrous “Cyberbeast” version, going from $60,990 to $99,990.

The AWD and tri-motor “Cyberbeast” versions of the Cybertruck qualify for the full $7,500 tax credit, while the RWD version has not been listed yet.

The angular pickup in all its shiny stainless steel glory is partly inspired by a submarine car from the 1997 James Bond movie “The Spy Who Loved Me,” said Tesla CEO Elon Musk.

The polarizing look is great at distinguishing the vehicle from other pickups, but has also led to significant production challenges. And while the truck has changed much in terms of looks, its specs tell an entirely different story — notably the first time Tesla has failed to deliver what it initially promised.

“This is notably the first time Tesla has failed to deliver the specs it initially promised”

The Cybertruck starts at $60,990 for the rear-while drive version — up from the original price of $39,900 announced in 2019. To be fair, inflation has been the driving force behind these rising prices — something Musk himself acknowledged last year. The rear-wheel drive version gets you 250 miles on a full charge, but it won’t be available until 2025.

Coming sooner are the all-wheel drive and the “Cyberbeast” versions — available starting 2024 from $79,990 and $99,990, respectively. The all-wheel drive version gets 340 miles on a full charge and hits 0-60 mph in 4.1 seconds, but it’s the top trim that’s the most interesting — and drastically changed — of the bunch.

The tri-motor “Cyberbeast” produces a truly ludicrous 845 horsepower with 10,296 lb-ft of torque, enough to outrun a Porsche 911 — while towing a Porsche 911. The top trim goes from 0 to 60 mph in 2.6 seconds and gets about 320 miles of range. Both AWD models also boast 11,000 pounds of towing capacity.

Alongside the new Cybertruck, Tesla has announced “Powershare” — a feature that will allow Cybertruck owners to power their camping equipment, other EVs, or even an entire home during a blackout. Functioning as a mobile generator, the pickup features one 240-volt outlet in the rear bed and four 120-volt outlets.

Cybertruck owners can also control bidirectional charging through the Tesla mobile app — allowing them to monitor and control charging, adjust preferences, and review energy history or usage in real-time.

“We dug our own grave with Cybertruck”

Musk was keen on showcasing the things that defined the pickup, namely toughness, functionality, and speed. A re-demonstration of the botched bulletproof glass demonstration was meant to be a statement: the Cybertruck is meant to be exciting and a formidable off-road EV. And it is these features that could make the vehicle a hit — if it does achieve success.

The Tesla CEO expects to reach a production rate of roughly 250,000 Cybertrucks a year by 2025 — which would put it further behind schedule against competing trucks like Rivian’s R1T and Ford’s F-150 Lightning. “We dug our own grave with Cybertruck,” Musk said last month, as he warned investors that it would take a year to 18 months for the vehicle to generate a positive cash flow.