Tesla’s Cybertruck was honestly supposed to be a game-changer. It had the bold looks, the hype, and the promise of mixing things up in the pickup truck market.
But just a few months into full production, things aren’t going as planned. Now, Tesla is cutting down its prices by up to $6,000, which could mean there is possibly trouble behind the scenes.
This smells a lot like desperation and discounts
Tesla has begun offering discounts of up to $6,000 on the high-end Foundation Series Cybertruck and $5,100 on the regular versions.
These price cuts apply to the 2024 model year, which seems to be sitting in inventory longer than Tesla expected.
This is a big, big jump from the $2,000 discount that Tesla was first offering in January 2025.
The move suggests that demand for the Cybertruck is not living up to expectations– no one really wants it (maybe just the U.S. government). If people were rushing to buy them, Tesla wouldn’t need to keep lowering prices. Instead, Cybertrucks are piling up in lots, waiting for buyers who just aren’t showing up in the numbers Tesla had hoped for.
It’s been no real secret that Tesla has been struggling to sell the Cybertruck, both in the U.S. and in Canada. Reports indicate that stock is building up, and Tesla is now trying different tactics to move these vehicles.
One of the more unusual strategies was removing the “Foundations Series” branding from some trucks, possibly in an attempt to make them seem more affordable.
Tesla even made adjustments to allow U.S. Cybertrucks to be sold in Canada, hoping that demand might be stronger out there.
Yet, despite these efforts, the trucks are still sitting unsold. For a company that thrives on hype and pre-orders, this has really not a great sign.
Could it maybe be the tax credit problem?
A strange pricing issue is also working against Tesla. The new 2025 Cybertruck qualifies for a $7,500 federal tax credit in the U.S., making it much more appealing to buyers than the 2024 model, which doesn’t get the same benefit. That means even with Tesla’s discounts, buyers might still prefer to wait for the 2025 version and claim the tax break.
Tesla is now in a tricky position. It has to lower prices on the 2024 models just to stay competitive with its own 2025 lineup. This is an unusual situation for a car company, and it’s leading to even more price cuts than Tesla probably expected.
A shaky start for a bold vehicle
The Cybertruck was one of the most anticipated vehicles in Tesla’s history. When it was first revealed in 2019, its sharp, stainless steel design and futuristic look made it seem like something out of a sci-fi movie.
People were excited. Tesla fans placed deposits, eager to be among the first to own one.
But reality has been a little different. The Cybertruck is expensive, with the base model starting at $79,990 and the premium Cyberbeast version costing $99,990.
It also faces competition from more traditional electric trucks like the Ford F-150 Lightning and Rivian R1T, which offer more familiar designs and a lot less production hiccups.
Despite these struggles, the Cybertruck did manage to become Tesla’s third best-selling vehicle in the U.S. in 2024, behind the Model 3 and Model Y. The company sold 38,965 units, which is better than the Model S and Model X but still not the runaway success some expected.
What this means for Tesla
Price cuts are nothing new for Tesla. The company has a history of adjusting prices to match demand, but the Cybertruck’s situation feels different.
This was supposed to be a one of its kind vehicle, yet it’s already needing discounts just months after its launch.
For Elon Musk, the Cybertruck was more than just another Tesla model. It was a statement. But if Tesla has to keep lowering prices just to sell them, it raises the question: Was the Cybertruck really the game-changer Musk promised, or just another high-tech experiment struggling to find its place?
Right now, the numbers aren’t looking good (Despite Musk’s war on hydrogen). Tesla may need to make even bigger moves if it wants to turn things around for its stainless steel pickup.
