Tesla Cybertruck 2025 Launch: Higher Prices and Canceled Features Diverge from 2019 Promises

The Tesla Cybertruck, initially unveiled in 2019 with promises of a $39,900 starting price and 500-mile range, has launched in 2025 with significant changes. The base model now starts at $60,990, and the top-tier 'Cyberbeast' offers a 301-mile range for around $100,000. Features like the $16,000 range extender, 'crab walk,' and floating capability have been canceled or delayed. The Cybertruck's design and production complexities have led to higher costs and delays, diverging from Elon Musk's original vision and raising questions about the feasibility of his early claims.

A Price Tag Far Above Initial Estimates

At its 2019 debut, Musk promised that the base Cybertruck would start at $39,900, with mid- and high-end versions priced at $49,900 and $69,900, respectively. However, the actual launch prices have come in significantly higher. The first units delivered were part of the $120,000 Foundation Series, a limited-edition model with premium features. The lowest-cost version currently available is the Long Range variant, priced at $69,990, while the base model is now expected to start at $60,990 when it becomes available in 2025—over 50% more than the original estimate.

Tesla’s top-tier model, the tri-motor “Cyberbeast,” is priced around $100,000 and offers an EPA-estimated range of just 301 miles, far short of the 500-mile range Musk touted in 2019.

Range Extender Canceled After Delays

One of the most significant changes to the Cybertruck’s offering is the cancellation of the optional $16,000 range extender. Originally slated for a mid-2025 release, the add-on battery pack was designed to sit in the truck bed and extend the vehicle’s range to over 470 miles. Tesla later revised that estimate to 445 miles and delayed the accessory’s release. In early May 2025, the company officially canceled the product and refunded customers who had placed $2,000 deposits.

The range extender would have taken up about one-third of the Cybertruck’s bed space, and its removal leaves the Cybertruck with a maximum advertised range of 318 miles for the Long Range model—well below the 500-mile figure Musk once promised.

Missing Features: Crab Walk, Floating Capability, and Cyberquad

Several other features highlighted during the 2019 unveiling have also failed to materialize. Musk had claimed the Cybertruck would be capable of “crab walking” and turning 360 degrees like a tank, thanks to a proposed four-motor configuration. However, Tesla ultimately abandoned the feature after internal testing. Cybertruck lead engineer Wes Morrill stated that the team found the functionality “clunky” and lacking a practical use case.

Another headline-grabbing claim was that the Cybertruck would be able to float and function as a boat for short distances. Musk said the vehicle would be waterproof enough to “cross rivers, lakes, & even seas that aren't too choppy.” While the production model includes a “wade mode” that allows it to drive through up to 30 inches of water, it falls far short of being amphibious. Musk has continued to suggest that a future upgrade could enable the truck to traverse 100 meters of water, but no timeline or technical details have been provided.

The Cyberquad, a two-seater electric ATV that was supposed to launch alongside the Cybertruck, has also not been released. Tesla did offer a $1,900 children’s version of the Cyberquad, which was later recalled and re-released at a lower price of $1,650. The full-size version remains absent from Tesla’s product lineup.

Autosteer and Software Limitations

Tesla has also confirmed that the Cybertruck will not support the standard Autosteer feature outside of its Full Self-Driving (FSD) package. Instead, customers are being offered one year of FSD (Supervised) as compensation. This decision reflects broader delays in Tesla’s autonomous driving software, which was already behind schedule at the time of the Cybertruck’s launch in late 2023.

Design and Build: A Radical Departure

The Cybertruck’s design remains one of its most polarizing aspects. Constructed from ultra-hard stainless steel and featuring sharp, angular lines, the vehicle stands out in a market dominated by more traditional pickup designs. The body material and unconventional styling have added complexity and cost to production, contributing to the vehicle’s delayed rollout and higher price.

The truck measures 18.6 feet in length, 79.9 inches in width (excluding mirrors), and 70.5 inches in height at medium suspension. It offers a 6-foot-long, 4-foot-wide bed, a payload capacity of 2,500 pounds, and a towing capacity of 11,000 pounds. These specs place it in competitive territory with rivals like the Rivian R1T and Ford F-150 Lightning, though it falls short of the 14,000-pound towing capacity Tesla once suggested.

Production Challenges and Delays

The Cybertruck is arriving two years behind schedule. Musk has cited the vehicle’s “radical” design and manufacturing complexity as reasons for the delay. Tesla aims to reach a production rate of 250,000 units per year by 2025, but has not provided updated figures on current output.

The launch has also been marred by early production issues and recalls, further complicating Tesla’s efforts to scale the vehicle. The company is entering a highly competitive electric pickup market, facing off against established players like Ford, Rivian, and General Motors.

A Different Truck Than Promised

The final production version of the Cybertruck represents a significant departure from the vehicle Elon Musk introduced in 2019. With higher prices, reduced range, and several canceled or missing features, the Cybertruck has evolved into a different product than originally envisioned. While it still boasts impressive specs and a distinctive design, the gap between promise and reality has left some early fans and reservation holders disappointed.

Tesla Cybertruck 2025 Launch: Higher Prices and Canceled Features Diverge from 2019 Promises

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