Tesla (TSLA) did what its CEO, Elon Musk, predicted. Today, the electric automaker increased the price of the base Cybertruck Standard AWD by $10,000.
As we reported earlier, Tesla received a significant number of orders for its newly introduced Cybertruck AWD variant. This rush of orders even pushed the delivery date of the new base variant by a few months.
However, Tesla stood its ground on increasing the price of the Cybertruck AWD lower-end trim. Starting March 1st, the Cybertruck Standard AWD is priced at $69,990.
On social media, especially Musk’s X, Tesla is receiving criticism for this price hike move, even by its long-time customers and enthusiasts. The automaker only kept the price of the Cybertruck AWD at $59,990 for just 10 days.
For the majority of potential Cybertruck customers, the 10-day period to make such a big purchase decision was not enough. Despite getting an increase in sales figures, Tesla raised the price of the base Cybertruck.
At the price tag of $59,990, the Cybertruck Standard AWD offered the most value for money. It also had a reasonable number of features that convinced customers buy it instead of the Cybertruck Premium AWD variant, which costs a hefty $79,990.
For a big difference of $20K, Cybertruck buyers were getting enough bells and whistles in their electric pickup truck to be convinced and place an order.
Tesla is most probably going to get a major sales hit after raising the price of the new Cybertruck AWD to $69,990. This is the same price tag that failed last year’s Cybertruck RWD variant, and the automaker discontinued its sales.
Tesla did not share the number of orders it received during the 10-day Cybertruck Standard AWD price offer of $59,990. Since the deliveries of the new Cybertruck AWD will begin in June, and Model S/X sales are going to discontinue in the next quarter, we will get an idea of the Cybertruck Standard delivery numbers in the Q2 2026 delivery report.
Customer Criticism
As we briefly discussed above, Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) is facing criticism from existing and potential Cybertruck customers. Even the company’s most loyal followers aren’t happy with the decision to increase the base Cybertruck’s price by $10K.
Tesla locked in Cybertruck orders for a $250 non-refundable fee. Because FSD transfers have already closed, it is possible that a percentage of these orders wouldn’t convert into actual Cybertruck purchases.
In the long run, this decision is most probably not going to go in Tesla’s favor. The sudden price increase has lured away potential customers and infuriated the existing ones who were still deciding on an upgrade or new purchase of the Cybertruck AWD at $60K.
Tesla must have thin margins on the $59,990 Cybertruck. It still received enough orders to keep production up at Giga Texas for the rest of the year. After getting strong feedback from its customer base, the automaker might reduce the price again sometime this year.
“They’re actively trying to drive away customers. Removal of autopilot and now doing a rug pull on a really good pricing change,” a Reddit user expressed his views on Tesla’s move.
A Tesla influencer on X wrote:
I swear Elon can’t ever just let a good thing be a good thing – $59k was the right price.
Another user stated:
Hate to be that guy but I looked closer into new Cybertruck pricing and it doesn’t make sense now. You get too much with AWD Premium for only 10k extra. If you [are] ordering Cybertruck, it no longer makes any sense to buy base.
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