The Cybertruck
The Tesla Crybertruck was a hotly anticipated vehicle from Elon Musk’s EV brand. It was introduced in 2019 and promised a range of features, like bulletproof siding and glass, self-driving capabilities, and a sleek stainless steel exterior immune to rust.
Source: @PLagueTV/X
Although the truck was promised to cost roughly $40,000, it came closer to $81,895 for starting models. It also took several years to get delivered and has been riddled with issues since hitting the market.
Problems With the Futuristic Car
Quality and safety issues have plagued Cybertruck owners since it was delivered in early 2024. One owner wrote an article detailing all of the problems he has encountered since picking up the stainless steel vehicle.
Source: @TESLA_winston/X
He has encountered problems such as the interior falling apart, a broken tailgate, a botched pedal recall fix, a trunk that can take off a finger, a useless rearview mirror, and an exterior that is assuredly not bulletproof like promised.
Terms and Conditions of the Truck
When buyers initially ordered the truck, they were warned that they would need to obtain Tesla’s permission to sell their new vehicle.
Source: @Tesla/X
In the terms and conditions set out by the brand and singed off by new owners stipulated that they would risk a $50,000 fine if the broke the clause and could even be banned from buying a different Tesla model in the future.
The Outrageous Terms Have Been Cancelled
Now, big changes have been made to the terms and conditions governing the sale of pre-owned vehicles.
Source: @marc_benton/X
According to the Teslarati, the company has relaxed the rules on who can resell a truck: “On Tuesday, some X users pointed out that Tesla had quietly removed the Cybertruck no-resale policy from its sales agreement, which banned buyers from selling their Foundation Series Cybertrucks within a year of taking delivery, at the risk of paying a $50,000 or more penalty.”
Fines Were Never Imposed
Although the language in the terms and conditions of owning a Cybertruck has only just been updated, several media outlets report that no one has actually faced a fine for selling their truck.
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It might have become too complex for Tesla to track owners and registration on vehicles.
Tesla Took Steps to Blacklist Cybertruck Flippers
Despite not handing out any hard fines to re-sellers, the site did find that Tesla did take some steps to “blacklist” anyone who attempted to “flip” their cybertruck in a short time frame.
Source: iStock
So far, no one has come to the media to explain that they have been banned from buying a Tesla in the future.
One Reseller Threatened With a Fine
Blaine Raddon reserved a Cybertruck when they launched online and waited eagerly for years to get the delivery notice.
Source: @HumanBollard/X
When Raddon finally brought the truck home, he discovered that the vehicle would not fit in his apartment complex parking spot. After much debate with his wife, they decided to sell the truck as it just didn’t fit into their life. Tesla heard about the story to remind the buyer of the 50K fine that could be imposed if he listed the vehicle for sale. Raddon said of the issue: “Making me keep a truck that does not fit my circumstances appears to be unfair and not at all the spirit of the no sale language in the contract.”
A Controversial Best Seller
Despite heavily restricting the resale on Cybertrucks, the electric pickup soon became the best-selling car above $100,000 in America.
Source: @madamayo_/X
However, the truck quickly became a polarizing sight on the road, causing a commotion and, at some times, a small culture war.
Musk's Vision Is Not Shared By All
In recent years, Elon Musk has become a much more polarizing figure in pop culture. People either love his brash, say-whatever-he-wants attitude or dislike his hypocritical propensity and outlandish billionaire eccentricities.
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Many people saw the invention of the Cybertruck as the design of a madman surrounded by sycophants who were too afraid to say no to a strange and unworkable car idea. Despite this, the truck still holds a cult following of Musk-believers who think that any level of genius comes with a bit of madness.
Tesla's Have Become Less Popular
Many people who disapprove of the politics and cultural actions of Musk have chosen to stop buying Teslas altogether.
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Sales decreased in California, the first super-popular market for the futuristic EV. Sales in the state decreased by 24% in the first quarter of 2023 and marked the third consecutive three-month decline compared to 2023.
Competitors Catching Up
Although Tesla sales have slowed down a considerable amount, this doesn’t mean that EV sales aren’t still going strong.
Source: @RivianTrackr/X
Tesla’s main competitor appears to be an emerging brand, Rivian. The sleek electric pickup truck and SUV design caught consumers’ eye early last year and has been dominating the market as the fastest-growing brand of EVs.