Standard Tesla Cybertruck can finally be ordered, starts from $79,990

It's been a long and winding road for those awaiting the Tesla Cybertruck. After a splashy unveiling back in 2019, the electric pickup truck faced numerous delays and price hikes. Then, we had the initial Signature and Foundation series, kicking deliveries off in time for Christmas last year. But finally, some good news has arrived: Tesla has opened the configurator for the non-Foundation series Cybertruck, offering a (slightly) more attainable entry point for those who haven't already snagged a top-of-the-line model.

Deliveries of the initial "Foundation Series" Cybertrucks began in November 2023, with Tesla prioritizing the higher-priced, fully-loaded versions. This strategy, while frustrating for those with tighter budgets, isn't new for Tesla. The Foundation Series for the Cybertruck had an unusually long production run, with tens of thousands of these trucks rolling off the production line.

Originally, Tesla planned to begin deliveries of the non-Foundation series months ago, but in July, it pushed that timeline back to "late 2024." Now, it seems that the time has come. Tesla has started sending emails to reservation holders, inviting them to configure their non-Foundation Cybertrucks, with estimated deliveries slated for October-November 2024.

While the official "Design Your Cybertruck" page on Tesla's website still only displays the Foundation Series, those with existing reservations are receiving email invitations to configure their own trucks. These invitations are likely going out in batches, prioritizing those who placed their reservations earlier. Given the rumored million-strong backlog of Cybertruck orders, it could be a while before everyone gets their turn.

Without the Foundation package, the All-Wheel Drive Cybertruck starts at $79,990, while the tri-motor Cyberbeast model is $99,990. This lower starting price for the AWD version dips below the $80,000 MSRP cap for the US Federal EV Tax Credit, but since Tesla does not mention anything about it we suspect the Cybertruck is still uneligible for it.

While the $79,990 starting price is a welcome reduction from the six-figure sums previously required to get behind the wheel of a Cybertruck, it's still a significant departure from the original promises made back in 2019. At the Cybertruck's unveiling, Tesla announced a starting price of $39,900 – half of what it costs today. Even the top-tier tri-motor AWD version was initially slated to cost $69,900, making it $10,000 cheaper than the current entry-level AWD model. Never mind the fact that the production model has fallen short of several promised specifications, most notably bed size, range, and payload.

While Tesla had previously hinted at a future rear-wheel-drive-only version of the Cybertruck with an even lower price tag, the company recently removed the single-motor option from the website. It seems that "double the promised price" might be the most affordable Cybertruck we'll ever see.

Despite the price escalation and missed promises, the Cybertruck remains an undeniably unique and highly popular vehicle. With its angular stainless steel design and impressive performance figures, it is already disrupting the electric pickup truck market. As the configurator opens up to more reservation holders, we can expect the Cybertruck to become a common sight on our roads.

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