Tesla Cybertruck

[Kaido]

I really think it was 2 and 3 that sank the CT. The design was always polarizing from the get go. I could even see your second point getting a pass because lets face it nobody thought it was gonna be $40K. If you did you were a fool or just got caught up in the hype. I mean like name one EV on the market today with the features that the CT has for $40K.....the answer is none. That price point was never gonna happen.

Number 3 though....OMG. Not even gonna touch number 3 but the backlash was swift and harsh. It sank the CT before it even had a chance to even get going.

It was always going to be $55k+ (after tax rebate). $40k would have cannibalized their car lineup.

HUGE dropped ball on marketing it. The production release was phoned in. They should have showed off an endless variety of wraps & customizations!!

The political backlash was nuts: switching from left to right politically (as an EV maker, although the most recent demographic data shows more equality), the salute stuff, the DOGE stuff etc.

I've never seen anything like it! I still like the truck & think it's cool, but I cancelled my reservation & have moved on. Fingers crossed for the Slate for our city car!

 

[Kaido]

technically there is a market for truck/utility vehicle in the $40k range, just look at the absurd number of overpriced SUV and quad cab trucks. with a stainless body exoskeleton there is no need for a factory paint shop, which can knock off 10-20k off the price of any car and eliminate a ton of the cost of body and paint employees knocking down total cost to build. the Slate truck is using plastic panels and vinyl wraps for that very reason.

Very curious to see how well the TELOS truck sells!