Here's a classic Tesla move: after some public struggles to move its angular, stainless-steel Cybertruck (TSLA), the company quietly rolls out a cheaper version. And wouldn't you know it, people seem to like it when things cost less.
Tesla is now seeing what's being described as "strong" demand for the all-wheel-drive Cybertruck, which recently got a new starting price of $59,990. But there's a catch—this isn't a permanent markdown. CEO Elon Musk said the change would last only 10 days, and the company is, so far, sticking to that deadline. The special price is reportedly available only through February 28.
So, what happens after that? Musk suggested on social media that the post-deadline price would "depend on demand." The company hasn't announced a new price for March, but with this reported surge in interest, there's a logical argument for keeping the price low to maintain momentum. Then again, this is Tesla, and logic doesn't always dictate the playbook.
This new entry-point Cybertruck comes without some features found on the premium all-wheel-drive version, which currently starts at $79,990. That creates a notable $20,000 gap between the cheapest and the next model up.
The demand story, while anecdotal, is compelling. Tesla influencer Sawyer Merritt noted a dramatic shift. "This is anecdotal, but since the $60K trim went live last Thursday, I think I've helped more people in DMs buy a Cybertruck or answer questions about it than in the previous 1.5 years combined. Demand is STRONG for this trim," Merritt tweeted.
He also ran an informal poll among his followers, asking if they had ordered the new $59,990 Cybertruck. Of those who voted, 10.5%—representing about 950 people—said yes. "That would represent over $57 million in revenue," Merritt calculated. He added that the estimated delivery date for the Cybertruck had slipped from June 2026 to September/October 2026, likely due to this increased demand.
The Bigger Picture: A Demand Rebound or a Short-Term Spark?
This presents Tesla with what might be considered a good problem: newfound demand. But it also forces a big decision. After the deadline passes, how much should they raise the price? And how should they position this cheaper model against the $79,990 version?
The context is important. After selling 39,965 Cybertrucks in 2024, sales dropped to 20,237 units in 2025—a nearly 50% year-over-year decrease. Musk once talked about an annual production target of 250,000 Cybertrucks. Current demand suggests production needs are less than 10% of that lofty goal.
Meanwhile, Tesla is making other big bets. The company has signaled it's ready to end production of some existing electric vehicle models to free up capacity for manufacturing its Optimus Bot humanoid robot. This means Tesla must carefully decide how much production capability and corporate attention should be devoted to the Cybertruck versus its other futuristic projects.
There are other potential demand levers. Cybertruck sales have recently begun in some international markets, which could help drum up additional orders. The real question is how much demand that will actually generate, and whether Tesla will choose to publicly share any concrete figures or commentary on the truck's performance.
For now, the story is simple: a lower price created a wave of interest. Tesla has ten days to decide whether to ride that wave or let it crash. The next price tag will tell us what they really think about the Cybertruck's place in their future.
