The Kaipher Editorial Team 
Tesla has quietly removed the Cybertruck Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive variant from its online configurator in the United States, discontinuing the most affordable version of its electric pickup after just five months on sale (Tesla Oracle; Notebookcheck).
Tax Credit Erosion Narrows Price Gap
Launched in April at $69,990 before incentives, the RWD model benefitted from the $7,500 federal EV tax credit, lowering its net price to $62,490, compared with the $79,990 all-wheel-drive variant. With the credit set to expire on September 30, that advantage vanishes, pushing cost-conscious buyers toward the pricier AWD trim (Car and Driver). The IRS confirms that a binding purchase agreement and initial payment before the deadline still secure the credit, even if delivery occurs later.
Feature Omissions Undermine Value
To achieve its lower price, Tesla omitted key features from the RWD model, including ventilated seats, rear-seat display, premium 15-speaker audio, air suspension, and bed power outlets. Instead, it offered cloth seating, a seven-speaker stereo, coil springs, and simplified taillights—compromises that many deemed hard to justify for roughly $10,000 in savings (Notebookcheck).
Declining Cybertruck Sales
The discontinuation reflects wider sales challenges. Tesla’s “other models” category, which includes Cybertruck, Model S, and Model X, delivered only 10,394 units in Q2 2025—down from over 21,500 the prior quarter. Cybertruck deliveries are estimated at 4,306 units for that period, a steep drop from earlier launches. Rivals like the Ford F-150 Lightning and GMC Hummer EV have outsold Tesla’s pickup in recent months, with total Cybertruck sales running near 20,000 units annually versus Musk’s target of 250,000 (Tesla Oracle).
Streamlined Lineup
Tesla now offers only two Cybertruck variants: the Long Range AWD at $79,990 and the flagship Cyberbeast at $114,990, removing the entry-level trim but also eliminating its lowest price point. This streamlined approach may improve profitability per unit but risks alienating price-sensitive buyers.
