Tesla has quietly discontinued the Cybertruck Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive (RWD), removing it from the online configurator in the United States less than six months after it debuted. At US$69,990 before incentives, or $62,490 with the soon-to-be-expired $7,500 U.S. federal EV tax credit, the RWD was billed as the most affordable Cybertruck—but its compromises to reach that price point proved hard to ignore.
With the Cybertruck RWD no longer appearing on Tesla’s website in the U.S., that leaves the All-Wheel Drive (AWD) and Cyberbeast trims as the only options, priced at US$79,990 and US$114,990 respectively.
The Cybertruck RWD was never available in Canada.
Key Features Cut to Save Costs
When it launched in April, the Long Range RWD seemed like a middle ground between the high-performance AWD and Cyberbeast trims. It offered an estimated 350 miles (563 km) of range, a 7,500-pound towing capacity, and a 0–60 mph time of 6.2 seconds. At 6,117 pounds, it was over 500 pounds lighter than the AWD, thanks in part to skipping the air suspension in favor of coil springs. Buyers also got 18-inch wheels with redesigned covers and a slightly lower ride height, making it more road-focused.
Despite these practical touches, the cutbacks were significant. The RWD came with cloth and textile seats instead of premium finishes, a standard seven-speaker audio system instead of 15 speakers, and no ventilated seating. Rear passengers lost heated seats and a dedicated display.
Additionally, the bed lacked power outlets, and even the taillight design was simplified, missing the full-width light bar. For a vehicle still priced close to US$70,000, these omissions were hard to justify for many.
Poor Value Without Incentives
The expiration of the $7,500 EV tax credit likely accelerated the RWD’s demise. With the credit applied, Tesla could market the truck to a slightly more budget-conscious segment. Without it, however, the price gap between the RWD and AWD shrinks to the point where the AWD’s additional features, better traction, and stronger performance offered far better value.
For buyers already spending that kind of money, features and capability outweighed saving a few thousand dollars. As a result, the RWD likely struggled to gain traction in Tesla’s lineup.
The Future of the Cybertruck
By dropping the RWD, Tesla has streamlined the Cybertruck lineup to trims that resonate more strongly with buyers. The Long Range AWD now serves as the entry-level option, offering a fuller feature set that better matches expectations in the US$70,000–$80,000 price bracket.
Some worry this move hints at broader challenges for the Cybertruck, and the potential demise of the truck itself, but it could also be seen as Tesla cutting its weakest product offering early. Optimistically, it may also open the door for a redesigned, lower-priced variant in the future—one that doesn’t require buyers to give up so much for the sake of cost savings.
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