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It’s now been more than 3 weeks since the Cybertruck started customer deliveries. Over the past 21 days, we’ve learned everything there is to know about the truck, which begs the question, how did the Cybertruck deliver as compared to earlier specs?
In a lot of ways, the Cybertruck has exceeded expectations. The Cybertruck is the first vehicle to feature a steer-by-wire variable gain steering system, the Cybertruck is also the first vehicle to feature a 48-volt low voltage system.
Tesla’s Lead Engineer Confirms Cybertruck is the Most American Made Truck, Says – “I Can’t Think of a Single Cybertruck Part Not Made in the US” @Tesla @elonmusk#tesla
-https://t.co/7iBLfRKWur
- pic.twitter.com/pv4E8V0NP2
— Torque News (@torquenewsauto) December 20, 2023
Not only that, the Cybertruck is the first vehicle to be wired using a high bandwidth ethernet cable loop that connects every component of the vehicle and is also the first-ever vehicle to be designed from the ground up to take advantage of Tesla’s 4680 cells and a structural battery pack.
Related News: Here’s the 1st Video of Cybertruck Delivery at a Tesla Store – Tesla Pulls Out the Red Carpet for Early Cybertruck Customers
If all these weren’t enough, the Cybertruck is also the first Tesla to feature 4-wheel steering, 350KW V4 supercharging that can charge the truck from 15% to 85% in 18 minutes, and 800-volt high-voltage architecture.
Every breakthrough and advancement mentioned above is something that Tesla did not promise with the original 2019 Cybertruck unveil yet over-delivered.
All these features have been wonderful however, there are a couple of specs that Tesla has overpromised and underdelivered, and those are the truck’s range and price.
When Tesla unveiled the Cybertruck, the EV maker said that the truck would have a $39,900 starting price and over a 500-mile range. However, after 4 years, the starting price has increased to $61,000 and the range has decreased to 340 miles.
This has left a sour taste in people’s mouths. And during his latest video, MKBHD addressed Cybertruck – expectations versus what was delivered.
MKHBD’s video was not entirely about Cybertruck but rather about controversial statements found on the internet that he calls “hot takes.”
One of the first hot takes that MKBHD addresses during his 15-minute video is a post by an X user that reads “Cybertruck isn’t as overpriced as everyone says it is, for everything you get for the price you pay.”
MKBHD delves deep and evaluates this statement saying in the video…
If you search Twitter or threads, it's not very hard to find a lot of harsh reactions to the Cybertruck. It's obviously not a cheap truck, it's an expensive truck but, also I think the key with this one is this has got to be the biggest delta between what was promised and what was delivered from Tesla on paper I've ever seen.
It was a massive over-promise and underdeliver moment for them. If you literally go back and watch the 4-year-old event now when they first unveiled the cybertruck, the specs they had on stage. They were saying 0 to 60 mph as low as 2.9 seconds, up to 500 plus miles of range, 14,000lb towing capacity, 3500 lb max payload capacity, and starting at $39,000.
That seemed killer but today the new specs are out and the truck that's actually starting to ship now in 2023 is 0 to 60 in 2.6 seconds which is it's crazy, it's a party trick but then, up to a maximum of 340 miles of range, 11,000 lb towing capacity, 2500 lb payload capacity, and starting at $60,000 going well up into the six digits.
so when you compare what we were promised versus what they actually delivered, not only was it late but it just feels like oh this thing is crazily overpriced.”
MKBHD says that based on what was promised and eventually delivered, the Cybertruck surely seems overpriced, however, he goes on to explain why that is not certainly the case.
MKBHD says the Cybertruck’s range and price are in line with the electric pickup trucks currently on the market. In a table, the YouTuber lays out some of the Cybertruck’s specs and prices next to those of the Rivian R1T, Ford F-150 Lightning, and Hummer EV.
The table compares the Cybertruck with its EV truck competitors on some key aspects including range, bed size, towing capacity, charging speed, and price. Based on these metrics, the Cybertruck specs are in line with most of the trucks and it also costs about the same.
So what’s the MKBHD’s final Cybertruck hot take? Marques Brownlee says that the problem is not that the Cybertruck is overpriced but that Tesla overpromised and underdelivered. MKBHD’s final verdict is “the Cybertruck isn’t overpriced but maybe it’s overhyped.”
Currently, reactions to the Cybertruck seem mostly positive, however, we’ll be sure to keep you posted as more Cybertrucks make it to customers’ hands. Until then, make sure to visit our site torquenews.com/Tesla regularly for the latest updates.
So what do you think? Is the Cybertruck overpriced? Or is it just a problem with Tesla overpromising? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Image: Screenshot from Marques Brownlee's YouTube channel
For more information check out: Jay Leno Takes Tesla Cybertruck on 1st Off-Roading Test, Says the Truck Handles Rock Crawling & Water Fording “Like it’s Nothing”
Tinsae Aregay has been following Tesla and The evolution of the EV space on a daily basis for several years. He covers everything about Tesla from the cars to Elon Musk, the energy business, and autonomy. Follow Tinsae on Twitter at @TinsaeAregay for daily Tesla news.
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