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Tesla Cybertruck Discounts: Price Cuts, Incentives, And Strategic Shifts

Tesla’s First-Ever Inventory Discounts And New Incentives Aim To Energize Cybertruck Sales Amidst Fluctuating Demand And Stiff Competition

Michael Phoon

January 16, 2025 | Updated 08:20, January 16, 2025

3 min read

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Tesla has begun offering its first-ever discounts on new Cybertruck electric vehicle (EV) models just months after initial deliveries began. This development offers insights into both the challenges of launching innovative EVs and the evolving dynamics of the premium EV market.

Varying Discounts Across Cybertruck Models

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Tesla Cybertruck inventory (Image: Tesla)

The discount structure varies across models, with new All-Wheel Drive (AWD) Cybertrucks receiving price reductions of up to $1,710, while the high-performance Cyberbeast variants see cuts exceeding $2,000. Customers can stack these discounts with an additional $1,000 savings through Tesla’s referral program. The company is offering even steeper discounts on demonstration models, with some vehicles seeing price reductions of more than $3,300, depending on mileage and specifications.

These price adjustments come against a backdrop of mixed signals about the Cybertruck’s market performance. While the vehicle has claimed the title of best-selling pickup truck in the United States (U.S.) for 2024 and ranks as the fifth best-selling EV overall with 38,965 units sold, there are indications of softening demand. Q4 2024 saw sales decline by more than 10% compared to the previous quarter, a particularly concerning trend given that the final quarter typically represents peak consumer spending.

Federal Incentives Add Value

Notably, new Cybertrucks now qualify for a $7,500 federal clean vehicle purchase incentive, which coincides with changes in federal EV incentives though this benefit comes with important caveats. The tax credit is limited to base models under the $80,000 MSRP cap and is subject to buyer income restrictions. However, customers can still access the full incentive through commercial vehicle registration or leasing arrangements, which Tesla began offering in November 2024.

The company’s efforts to stimulate demand extend beyond price cuts. Tesla has implemented various strategies, including offering lifetime free Supercharging promotions and adjusting its model lineup. Notably, Tesla discontinued orders for the entry-level rear-wheel drive version, which was priced at around $61,000, focusing instead on the higher-margin AWD variant starting at $79,990.

Production challenges have also emerged as a concern. Reports of temporary worker furloughs at Tesla’s Giga Austin plant, where the Cybertruck is manufactured, suggest potential issues with production scheduling and efficiency.

Cybertruck’s Competitive Position

Despite these challenges, the Cybertruck maintains a major presence in the electric pickup market, outperforming competitors like the Ford F-150 Lightning, which sold 33,510 units, and the Rivian R1T, which fell out of the top ten with 11,085 units sold. This context suggests that while Tesla may be facing challenges with the Cybertruck, the entire electric pickup segment is still finding its footing in the broader automotive market.

As Tesla continues to navigate the complex landscape of premium EV sales, these early pricing adjustments may reflect a necessary evolution in the company’s market strategy rather than a definitive judgment on the Cybertruck’s long-term viability. The coming months will be crucial in determining whether these price adjustments successfully stabilize demand and establish the Cybertruck’s position in the expanding EV marketplace.

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