So, the Cybertruck's Lost Its Fancy Hat…
Image Credit: Tesla.
Tesla's latest move with the Cybertruck is in a league of its own. It seems our favorite electric car maker has hit a bit of a snag selling their stainless steel behemoth, and they're resorting to some... creative solutions.
When the Cybertruck first burst onto the scene, it was all glitz, glamour, and a price tag that could make your wallet spontaneously combust. Tesla called it the "Foundation Series," and it came with all the bells and whistles. Unfortunately, buyers weren't exactly lining up to throw down an extra $20,000 for the privilege of owning one. I guess for some, the allure of a laser-etched badge just wasn't worth the price.
Image Credit: Tesla.
I've always been a fan of electric vehicles. They're like the quiet, responsible older sibling of the gas-guzzling, tire-squealing muscle cars I grew up with. But even I have to raise an eyebrow at Tesla's recent antics. Apparently, they're so keen to offload these Foundation Series Cybertrucks that they're sending them off to get a little... makeover. They're stripping them of their fancy Foundation Series badges, both inside and out, and hoping no one notices the $20,000 price drop.
As if that wasn't enough, Tesla also decided to send a whole bunch of these shiny electric pickups north of the border. Some 800 Cybertrucks are being prepped for a Canadian vacation. Apparently, Tesla thinks they'll have better luck selling them to our polite, maple syrup-loving neighbors. It's a bold strategy, I'll give them that. Maybe they're hoping the Canadians will be too nice to say no?
This whole situation is putting a real strain on Tesla's service centers. These poor folks are already swamped, and now they've got to play dress-up with Cybertrucks, buffing off badges like they're pulling off price tags at a yard sale. I can only imagine the backlog.
Look, I'm not saying the Cybertruck is a bad vehicle. It's certainly... unique. And it's definitely got some impressive specs. But the fact that Tesla's having to resort to these kinds of tactics to sell them? That's a bit of a red flag, isn't it?
When the Cybertruck first rolled out, it became the best-selling electric pickup truck in the US. But that wasn't exactly a high bar to clear. And with years of pent-up demand and over a million reservations, it's no surprise they flew off the shelves. But now, after burning through the backlog in less than a year and delivering only around 40,000-50,000 of these electric behemoths, it seems like the party's over.
Tesla's original goal was to sell 250,000 Cybertrucks per year. Elon even hinted at doubling that number to 500,000. Ambitious, to say the least. But with the current state of affairs? Let's just say I wouldn't bet my last dollar on it. Next year will be the real test. We'll see how the Cybertruck fares in the market without the hype and the backlog to prop it up. They're planning to release a cheaper, $61,000 rear-wheel-drive version, which might help, but I still have my doubts.
