Cybertruck Prices and Trim

[Maxx]

The economics of larger battery EVs don’t make sense at prices sub $60k or even $70k. This is why Tesla focuses on reducing costs elsewhere: eliminates parts, use shared parts, focuses on efficiency to reduce battery size, and use giga castings to lower manufacturing costs. Don’t plan on Tesla delivering any $61K RWD models anytime soon, it’s just for marketing. They need to sell CT at $80k until scale for the margins to make sense. Ford made the most of the Larait trim for the same reason. Ford will go bankrupt selling $40-$50k Lightnings

In the mean time the competition opens up windows of opportunists we can enjoy. If Tesla didn't have that $40K single motor in their 2019 presentation, I wouldn't be driving a $32.5K dual motor Pro today. As long as manufacturers try and as long as there is enough demand (even if it is only at the higher end), the research for better battery tech will continue and at some point we will get there.

On volume/price issue, manufacturers used to push the volume of components like ICE transmission higher by outsourcing and sharing those parts. So the vendors could have lower price due to higher volume and deliver a better product by specializing. With the recent part shortage and more political instability in the horizon, companies like Tesla producing more parts in-house for security makes sense. IF they can sell at high enough volume, it may even make sense economically since they don't have to pay margin to someone else. That makes CT pricing even more interesting. Initially at lower production capacity and high demand, higher unit price makes sense but some of those customers that are gone to Rivian or Ford may never come back to Tesla. It would be interesting to see at what time and at what price, high demand and high supply will be sustainable for Tesla.

To be frank even if dual motor CT was delivered at the advertised price, it would still be a toss up for me. Tesla network was the biggest selling point which may become irrelevant soon. The bigger battery pack of CT is the only real advantage to my Pro but I will have to lose my Spare, Large rear seat and frunk space for that. I will have to pay over $8K to get a spare and a color on CT. That with losing my bed space. Granted Tesla software team has touched a computer before but as long as Ford guys don't break my truck, I can live with their totally dysfunctional operations. All that to say, I think CT demand at these prices will be driven mostly by those that need attention and share holders that want to protect their investments by supporting the company (I am guessing a fairly large number).

Regardless of how CT does, I am glad Tesla is pushing the boundaries and the competition.

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[Txxthie]

If Tesla didn't have that $40K single motor in their 2019 presentation, I wouldn't be driving a $32.5K dual motor Pro today. As long as manufacturers try and as long as there is enough demand (even if it is only at the higher end), the research for better battery tech will continue and at some point we will get there.

No doubt competition is healthy and opens up opportunities for bargains. I am a lucky owner of a 2023 Pro with 9.6 Pro Power and Tech package. With all incentives applied, OTD cash it was $39k. I feel like I won the EV lottery. Lightning is easily the best BEV sold today under $60k.

 

[RickKeen]

2022 Lightning Pro pricing plus tax incentive was definitely a very good deal on an EV truck.

 

[FordLightningMan]

I love how the CT is still "estimated" price too. I wonder what kind of shenanigans are still left in the pricing process? I am also curious about wheel options, I assume there will be at least two.

It would be pretty great if Tesla kept the FSD charge the same as it was when the reservation was made, as the price doubled since 2019. It seems like they are going to squeeze every penny out of early adopters as possible though, so I doubt this happens.

 

[Snakebitten]

Tesla isn't exactly known for shenanigans at the moment of purchasing.
That's everybody else.

 

[F150ROD]

Tesla isn't exactly known for shenanigans at the moment of purchasing.
That's everybody else.

Except they dont have prices including destination. That comes after your placed your order and you find out it's $1600 more than what's advertised.

 

[Snakebitten]

Shipping charges aren't exactly what I meant by shenanigans.

 

[USA EV]

BTW, all batteries are the same size in the CT.

46mm by 80mm?

Otherwise, if you meant battery packs how do you explain 250 miles for RWD? Software limiting? I doubt it.

 

[F150ROD]

46mm by 80mm?

Otherwise, if you meant battery packs how do you explain 250 miles for RWD? Software limiting? I doubt it.

That’s the rumor!

 

[MickeyAO]

That’s the rumor!

Yes, the Cybertruck uses a 46800 cell, but it is the same chemistry as the 18650 and 21700 used in the past. We just got a Model Y with the 46800 cells for testing, but I doubt we will tear this thing down after the vehicle testing due to pack construction considerations (cell to pack and structural part of the vehicle)

 

[Grumpy2]

The Tesla approach to throw away vehicles is painful to see. I watched Munro demolish that Tesla structural pack attempting to disassemble. Crazy way to build a vehicle in this time of "recycle, reuse, repair".

 

[MickeyAO]

When we tear down a battery pack, the modules are typically under 40 V (less than OSHA high voltage). So when we attack, (while wearing arc flash suits) we cut the pack in half (removing the bus bar at the mid point), then cut the two halves in half, so forth and so on until we have nothing over 50 V. Then we can come out of the arc flash suits to finish up. When we had a Model 3 module (80 V), we scrapped off the foam at the mid point and cut all the busbar connections to have two < 40 V sets. With this type of pack design, I have no way of bringing the voltage under 50 V without cutting virtually all of the cell connections.

But before I can even do that, I have to destroy the vehicle just to extract the battery pack.

 

[Snakebitten]

I'm a bit torn either way regarding Tesla's approach.

While it's an economic heartbreak to see it totaled, their fabrication methods have resulted in vehicles that broke the records in crash tests. Literally raising the bar on scoring.

I don't have one to benefit from the added safety, but I'd enjoy that aspect if I did.

Too bad I'm just not smitten by their cars. I have huge respect for their engineering.

 

[Maxx]

Tesla isn't exactly known for shenanigans at the moment of purchasing.
That's everybody else.

I call this default tab at the moment of order shenanigan. This is almost as bad as walking to a Ford dealer.

 

[Snakebitten]

Oh, you mean when reserving a future vehicle for potential purchase.

Yea, not so likely ANY manufacturer can guarantee an exact purchase price. Of course very few manufacturers produce vehicles that people get in line months/years in advance.

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