Tesla has flagged lower cost versions of its polarising Cybertruck electric ute as it ramps up production levels and introduces new variants. The news comes as CEO Elon Musk suggests that the long awaited Roadster might be able to fly.
First on the Cybertruck, Deliveries began in late 2023 with the foundation series which had a price tag of over $US100,000.
At the shareholders meeting late lsat week, Tesla announced that it was now producing over 1,300 a week and that the foundation series is about to come to an end.
This paves the way for a dual-motor all-wheel-drive (AWD) Cybertruck with a starting price of under $US80,000 to begin deliveries in the coming months.
Made the impossible possible with @Cybertruck. Our goal is to ramp production to 2500 units/week by end of year pic.twitter.com/rIuyuekvpu
— Tesla (@Tesla) June 13, 2024
With the federal tax credits, it could start as low as $72,500 for eligible buyers, making a major milestone for this very unique vehicle.
The goal for the Cybertruck production in 2024 is set at 2500 units a week which is an annualised production rate of 125,000 Cybertrucks.
With increased production, the cheapest Cybertruck could also be on the cards in 2025. This will be a single-motor rear-wheel-drive (RWD) variant for a starting price of $US60,990 and can deliver up to 250 miles range.
At the same time as this major milestone is reached in Cybertruck production, Tesla’s CEO, Elon Musk, has already hinted at a flying car that is expected to be its most fastest and expensive so far.
Over the weekend, Musk took to X to share that Tesla’s new Roadster will fly, saying: “The new Tesla Roadster can fly”.
The new Tesla Roadster can fly
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 15, 2024
After unveiling the new Roadster back in 2019, not a lot had been shared about the two-door EV. Many order holders of the foundation series car had considered the product would ever be released.
That was until in February this year when Musk took to the X to share that the new Roadster is being worked on and the car will be unveiled in 2024. Following this, production will begin in 2025.
Tonight, we radically increased the design goals for the new Tesla Roadster.
There will never be another car like this, if you could even call it a car.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 28, 2024
On the back of that news, Tesla enthusiast and news expert, Sawyer Merritt, asked about the straight-line performance figure to which Musk replied: “0-60mph < 1 sec, And that is the least interesting part”.
That is astonishingly fast for any car, let alone an electric car that can be driven on the road.
Now with the latest announcement, it appears that the Roadster might even take off, giving it flying capabilities.
As Musk said back in February: “I think it has a shot at being the most mind-blowing product demo of all time”.
Let’s see if Musk’s prediction on this car’s capabilities does come to market as it would excite many in the sportscar world. For some, this new flying roadster may even blow their minds.
Riz is the founder of carloop based in Melbourne, specialising in Australian EV data, insight reports and trends. He is a mechanical engineer who spent the first 7 years of his career building transport infrastructure before starting carloop. He has a passion for cars, particularly EVs and wants to help reduce transport emissions in Australia. He currently drives a red Tesla Model 3.