Tesla’s Cybertruck has always grabbed attention, whether for its futuristic design or its rocky rollout. Now it’s in the spotlight again for a different reason: price. The most expensive version of the truck, known as the Cyberbeast, just saw a sharp increase of $15,000 in the United States, bringing the total cost to $114,990. The timing is interesting, given that sales so far have been softer than Tesla expected and multiple recalls have dented momentum.
The latest price bump comes with what Tesla calls the “Luxe Package.” That bundle includes Supervised Full Self-Driving as well as free access to the company’s Supercharger network. For some Tesla loyalists, that kind of added value is a big deal. But it is hard to ignore how far today’s price tags are from the original pitch. As Reuters noted:
“The pricing of the model is well above CEO Elon Musk’s 2019 pitch of a roughly $40,000 starting price.”
By the time the base model launched in late 2023, the entry price had already jumped to $60,990 more than 50 percent higher than promised. That shift has left some early fans feeling like the Cybertruck dream has drifted away from reality.
Meanwhile, the competition hasn’t slowed down. Rivals like Ford’s F-150 Lightning and Chevrolet’s Silverado EV continue to offer lower entry prices on certain trims, putting Tesla’s rising Cybertruck costs under even more scrutiny. Tesla itself has been offering hefty discounts on unsold trucks, creating a bit of whiplash in the marketplace.
Production capacity was supposed to be one of Tesla’s strong points. Musk said the company could build more than 125,000 Cybertrucks a year, with potential to hit 250,000 in 2025. But sales remain a small fraction of Tesla’s total deliveries. Recalls have added more pressure. One recall in March alone covered about 46,000 trucks, nearly every vehicle delivered between November 2023 and February 2025. That number says a lot about how bumpy the ramp has been.
For now, the Cybertruck sits at a crossroads. It is still a head-turner and an unmistakable symbol of Tesla’s daring design choices. Yet it faces a tougher market than ever, with buyers who expect both innovation and reliability. Whether the Cybertruck grows into the workhorse Musk promised or remains a niche experiment will depend on how Tesla navigates the next stretch of its journey.
Source: Reuters