Unveiled as a 2019 concept, the angular electric truck took years to reach customers and has faced sales, safety and build-quality questions ever since.
The Tesla Cybertruck is a battery-electric pickup built at Gigafactory Texas since 2023, with a stainless steel exoskeleton and three motor options. Its sales fell sharply after a strong 2024, and it has faced criticism over build quality, safety and pricing.
Tesla's stainless steel pickup has been on sale in limited numbers since late 2023, and it looks nothing like a conventional truck. The angular body and steer-by-wire system set it apart, while its price increases and quality problems have shaped its public image.
When was the Cybertruck first shown?
Tesla unveiled the Cybertruck as a prototype concept on 21 November 2019 in Los Angeles. Its flat, unpainted stainless steel panels drew comparisons to low-polygon computer models, and the launch used a graffiti-style logo that many observers found striking.
Musk had floated a Tesla supertruck idea in 2012, and in early 2014 he predicted four to five years before work could start. The outline for a consumer pickup appeared in Tesla's Master Plan, part 2, in mid-2016.
Tesla filed a Cybrtrk trademark in November 2019, but the application was abandoned in August 2020. The concept itself went on to draw a steady flow of comment on social media, much of it critical of the unusual exterior.
A stainless steel pickup that drew a crowd at launch and has spent years proving that design alone does not sell trucks.
When did production start?
Production was originally planned for late 2021, but the schedule slipped several times. Limited production began at Gigafactory Texas in 2023, and customer deliveries started in November 2023. Early units were built there as pilot production, and showroom models followed later that same year. The truck is now sold in the US, Mexico, Canada, South Korea, Qatar, the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
Price expectations moved sharply. The original 2019 starting price was US$39,900, yet Tesla's later pricing came in 53 to 64 percent higher than the 2019 projections, which changed how buyers saw the product.
Tesla later limited sales to the Foundation Series, capped at 25,000 units and priced US$20,000 above the base car. The edition included early delivery and most of the available accessories.
What variants are on sale?
Two variants are on sale: a tri-motor AWD model called Cyberbeast and a dual-motor AWD model. When the variants were priced in 2023, the Cyberbeast carried a US$99,990 price tag. The Cyberbeast has an EPA range of 320 miles (515 km), while the dual-motor version is rated at 350 miles (565 km).
The rear-wheel-drive Long Range trim returned in April 2025 at US$69,990 after a gap in sales. It omitted several features, including ventilated seats and adaptive air suspension, and it was discontinued in September 2025.
In February 2026, Tesla updated the dual-motor price to US$59,990. Top speed differs by configuration, with the dual-motor reaching 130 mph (210 km/h) and the rear-wheel-drive version 112 mph (180 km/h).
How does the powertrain work?
The Cybertruck uses permanent magnet and induction motors built from a shared set of components. The single-motor RWD makes up to 315 hp (235 kW), the dual-motor AWD combines 600 hp (450 kW), and the tri-motor reaches 845 hp (630 kW).
On the dual-motor version the power is split. The rear permanent magnet motor is downrated to 297 hp (221 kW), while the front induction motor produces 303 hp (226 kW) to share the load.
The tri-motor puts a permanent magnet motor on the front axle and two induction motors at the rear. The front motor makes 276 hp (206 kW), and each rear motor produces 284 hp (212 kW).
The battery is a 123 kWh structural pack using 4680-format cells at 816 V nominal. The pack weighs 720 kg (1,590 lb) and serves as part of the chassis rather than sitting in a separate tray.
How far can it go and how fast does it charge?
Quoted range varies with wheel size and options. The RWD Long Range is rated at 331-362 miles (533-583 km), the dual-motor AWD at 350 miles (565 km), and the Cyberbeast at 301-320 miles (484-515 km). The battery accepts up to 350 kW on 800 V DC chargers.
The onboard charger accepts up to 11.5 kW at 240 V and 48 A. A wade mode lets the truck cross water up to 2.5 ft (0.76 m) deep, using a positive pressure system to keep water out of the battery.
Vehicle-to-load outlets deliver up to 9.6 kW of continuous AC power on the dual-motor and tri-motor models. That makes the truck useful as a mobile power station on a job site or a campsite.
Did the Cybertruck have a range extender?
Tesla announced a 50 kWh range extender that would sit in the truck bed. It was expected to add 120-130 miles (190-210 km), but the option was removed from the website in April 2025.
Deposits of US$2,000 were taken when sales began. Customers were told by email that the extender would not be built and that deposits would be refunded, which ended the plan for the long-range add-on.
How did the Cybertruck sell?
The Cybertruck sold 11,688 units by June 2024, and Kelley Blue Book estimated 38,965 sales for 2024 as a whole. Sales then fell sharply, and the Ford F-150 Lightning took the title of best-selling electric pickup in Q1 2025.
Industry estimates put cumulative sales at about 27,185 by October 2024. Just over 16,000 sold in the first three quarters of 2025, a much slower pace than the early months had suggested.
Forbes said the truck was selling at 10 percent of production capacity. Tesla's recall paperwork showed 46,096 vehicles produced before 27 February 2025.
Insurance added to the burden for owners. Some policies cost US$1,000 a year more than average truck rates, and Hanover Insurance ended existing Cybertruck policies in 2025.
How was the body made?
The stainless steel panels are 0.071 in (1.8 mm) thick on the doors and 0.055 in (1.4 mm) on the body. Because the steel cannot be stamped in the usual way, the panels are laser-cut and bent along straight lines.
Tesla had to invent a process it calls air bending, which shapes the steel with high air pressure without touching the surface. The method was central to the production story, and it also explains why the finish needs careful handling in the wet.
Stainless steel marks easily, so owners are advised to dry the truck after rain and avoid washing it in direct sun. Surface contamination and light rust have been reported on some examples.
How did critics review the Cybertruck?
Car and Driver gave the truck 8.5 out of 10 in 2024, while Motor Trend shortlisted it for its 2025 Truck of the Year. Critics elsewhere focused on build quality and the steep rise in price.
The Automobile Magazine named the 2019 concept its Concept Car of the Year, which reflected the excitement of the reveal. The truck's polarising design has since produced strong opinions on both sides.
Safety drew the most attention. The first year brought 26 complaints, two investigations and seven recalls, and by October 2025 the total had reached ten, with four fixed by software updates.
The IIHS crash-tested a May 2025 truck and rated its crashworthiness as good. Other categories received acceptable and marginal scores, which kept the verdict mixed.
How did the steering and suspension work?
The Cybertruck uses steer-by-wire, which lets every turn be completed with less than a full rotation of the wheel, 340 degrees lock-to-lock. Steering is speed-sensitive and damped, so it does not whip violently over rough terrain.
Four-wheel steering can turn the rear wheels up to 10 degrees, which reduces the turning circle for parking and tight streets. The front motor, where fitted, can send all of its torque to one wheel through a locking differential.
The AWD and Cyberbeast trims use adjustable air suspension at both axles, with up to 12 in (30 cm) of travel. The system compensates for variable loads and can raise the truck to 17.4 in (44 cm) of ground clearance when needed.
What happened at the launch demonstrations?
Tesla's showcase events leaned heavily on stunts. At the 2019 unveiling, the Armor Glass windows broke during a demonstration with a thrown ball, and the moment became one of the most repeated stories about the truck.
At the November 2023 delivery event, a promotional drag race against a Porsche 911 was staged. Musk claimed the race covered a 1/4 mile (0.4 km), but footage suggested 1/8 mile, and independent analysis disputed the result.
A tug-of-war video showed the Cybertruck pulling a rear-wheel-drive Ford F-150 uphill. Critics pointed out that the truck's extra weight made the result far less impressive than it looked.
What is inside the cabin and bed?
The cabin seats five, with two seats in front and a three-seat bench behind. The main touchscreen measures 18.5 in (47 cm) and handles most climate, media and vehicle controls, while AWD and Cyberbeast trims add a 9.4 in (24 cm) screen for rear passengers.
The steering wheel has a squircle shape with a flat top and bottom and rounded sides, a design that sets it apart from conventional wheels. The cargo bed is 6 ft (1.8 m) long and 4 ft (1.2 m) wide, with a volume of 67 ft3 (1.9 m3).
What are the Tesla Cybertruck specifications?
The table lists the core figures for the Cybertruck's main configurations. Metric values come first, with imperial figures in brackets, and each row names the variant where a figure applies to one version rather than all of them.
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Battery | 123 kWh structural pack, 816 V nominal |
| Pack weight | 720 kg (1,590 lb) |
| Charging | 350 kW peak on 800 V DC |
| Onboard AC charger | 11.5 kW at 240 V, 48 A |
| RWD output | Up to 315 hp (235 kW) |
| Dual-motor output | 600 hp (450 kW) |
| Tri-motor output | 845 hp (630 kW) |
| Dual-motor range | 350 miles (565 km) |
| Cyberbeast range | 320 miles (515 km) EPA |
| Steering | Steer-by-wire, 340 degrees lock-to-lock |
| Rear steer | Up to 10 degrees |
| Ground clearance | 17.4 in (44 cm) with air suspension |
| Cargo bed | 6 ft (1.8 m) long, 4 ft (1.2 m) wide |
| Touchscreen | 18.5 in (47 cm) front display |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Cybertruck sold in Europe?
Official sales are concentrated in North America and a handful of other markets. Individual imports into Europe and the UK are possible, but type approval rules prevent registration for public road use in many countries.
Can the Cybertruck power equipment?
Yes. The dual-motor and tri-motor models provide up to 9.6 kW of continuous vehicle-to-load power, and both AWD variants support up to 11.5 kW of vehicle-to-home output with the right home equipment.
Can the Cybertruck be recalled over the air?
Some of its recalls were resolved remotely. Four of the ten recalls as of October 2025 were fixed by software updates pushed to the vehicle, while the rest needed a visit for repair.
What did the Foundation Series include?
The Foundation Series came with early delivery, unique badging and nearly all available accessories. Bundled features included Full Self-Driving and Powershare capability, and the edition was capped at 25,000 units.
What is the Cybertruck's steering system?
The truck uses steer-by-wire, so the wheel is not mechanically linked to the front wheels. Four-wheel steering lets the rear wheels move up to 10 degrees, which shortens the turning circle.
