Summary
- Cybertruck reservations in the US have already been completed in just under a year
- The failure of the Cybertruck to meet expectations is attributed to its high cost and low range
- Recent updates suggest a need to increase demand for the truck through price cuts and additional incentives
- Suggestions to turn things around include offering a 6-seater version and free color wraps
- If sales remain low, Elon Musk may consider designing and selling a more traditional pickup truck
Article
The article discusses recent updates on Tesla’s Cybertruck, provided by a reader named Rajan who has been following Tesla’s progress closely. Rajan highlights eight key dates related to the Cybertruck, noting that while the first two are positive, the next six are concerning. Most of the 2.2 million reservation holders for the Cybertruck may have received refunds by now, indicating some issues with the vehicle’s progress.
One major point of concern is that Tesla has already fulfilled all its Cybertruck reservations in the US within a year, despite projections of millions of reservations. By early October, only 30,000 Cybertrucks had been delivered, and Tesla was allowing orders without reservations with a quick delivery timeframe. This raises questions about the vehicle’s anticipated disruption of the US truck market, especially considering the higher cost and lower range than initially promised.
To address the lack of demand for the Cybertruck, Tesla has made adjustments such as lowering lease prices, reducing the cost of special wraps, and offering free lifetime Supercharging for certain models. However, these efforts may not be sufficient to attract more buyers to the Cybertruck. Rajan suggests that Tesla should consider launching a six-seater version and offering free color wraps to provide more choices for potential customers.
Despite these suggestions, the article notes that turning things around for the Cybertruck may be challenging. Tesla could try to reduce production costs and lower prices, or achieve a battery breakthrough to improve range. If sales remain low in the coming year, there is speculation about whether Elon Musk would design and sell a more conventional-looking pickup truck as an alternative. Overall, the future of the Cybertruck remains uncertain given the current challenges it faces.
The article concludes by thanking Rajan for his updates and hints at the possibility of more positive news in the future. Readers are encouraged to support independent cleantech coverage by contributing a few dollars each month. For those interested in sharing tips with CleanTechnica, advertising opportunities, or suggesting guests for their CleanTech Talk podcast, contact information is provided. Additionally, readers can sign up for daily or weekly newsletters to receive the latest cleantech stories and updates.
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