Tesla has officially increased the price of its recently introduced Cybertruck AWD trim from $59,990 to $69,990.
The 17% price jump comes exactly 10 days after the trim’s debut, following a high-pressure marketing window orchestrated by CEO Elon Musk.
A Launch Strategy That Feeds Itself
When Tesla introduced the new AWD Cybertruck on February 19, the price of $59,990 marked the lowest ever for an electric pickup. This trim offered dual motors, 325 miles of range, adaptive damping, a powered tonneau cover, and bed outlets with Powershare V2X functionality, making it arguably the first Cybertruck that provided real value.
However, within hours of the announcement, Elon Musk made it clear the price wouldn’t last: “Only for the next 10 days.” This created urgency, artificially boosting demand — which Tesla could then point to as justification for the $10,000 price increase.
Delivery estimates quickly slipped from June 2026 to late 2026 and eventually 2027, reinforcing Tesla’s narrative of strong demand. Today, the price has officially risen to $69,990, and the lease option for this trim has been removed.
Comparing AWD to the Old RWD
While the $70,000 sticker price is a steep pill to swallow, the current AWD model remains a significantly better value proposition than the now-discontinued Rear-Wheel Drive (RWD) trim that occupied the same price bracket last year.
The previous $69,990 RWD model was widely criticized for its lack of features. The new AWD trim, at essentially the same price point, offers dual motors, all-wheel drive, adaptive damping, and 325 miles of range, making it a far more capable and desirable truck. To compare:
| Feature | Discontinued RWD ($69,990) | New AWD ($69,990) |
| Drivetrain | Single Motor (RWD) | Dual Motor (AWD) |
| Suspension | Standard | Adaptive Air Suspension |
| Tonneau Cover | Manual | Powered |
| V2X Capability | No | Powershare Bed Outlets |
| Range (Est.) | ~250 Miles | 325 Miles |
The 2019 Promise vs. Reality
When the Cybertruck was unveiled in 2019, Tesla promised the dual-motor AWD would start at $49,900 with 300 miles of range. Today’s AWD Cybertruck costs about 40% more than that promise, even after accounting for inflation.
The top tri-motor trim, originally promised at $69,900, now sells for $99,990, showing how far Tesla has shifted from its initial pricing plans.
[source: Electrek]
