After months of being a commercial disaster, something curious is happening with the Tesla Cybertruck. For the first time since its troubled launch, Elon Musk’s futuristic pickup is showing signs of life.
The wait time for the Cybertruck’s cheapest model has suddenly stretched to over a month, suggesting a spike in demand for a vehicle that, until now, almost no one seemed to want. The question is whether this is a genuine turnaround for the polarizing pickup or just a temporary sugar rush fueled by a looming government deadline.
From Hype to Flop: A Brutal Reality
The Cybertruck was never a normal vehicle. Unveiled in a now-infamous 2019 event where its supposedly “bulletproof” windows shattered on stage, the sci-fi pickup, with its radical stainless-steel design, was hyped by CEO Elon Musk as an indestructible truck that would change the world.
But after years of production delays, the reality has been brutal. In the second quarter of 2025, Tesla sold just 4,306 Cybertrucks, a staggering 50.8% plunge from the same period last year, according to data from Kelley Blue Book. The used car market has been just as unforgiving, with resale values crashing over 30% in the past year, according to data from CarGurus.
By all metrics, America’s most hyped truck has been a commercial bust.
A Sudden Spike in Demand?
That’s what makes the latest change on Tesla’s website so bizarre. As of Sunday, anyone ordering the base model “Long Range” Cybertruck (starting at $72,235) will now have to wait 3 to 5 weeks for delivery. Meanwhile, the two more expensive variants, the All-Wheel Drive and the top-of-the-line Cyberbeast, are listed as available for immediate delivery.
This suggests the sudden delay for the cheapest model is being driven by a surge in new orders. This theory is supported by the fact that other popular Tesla models, like the Model 3 and Model Y, have also seen their wait times increase from a few weeks to over a month in the last 48 hours.
The most likely culprit for this buying frenzy is the expiration of the $7,500 federal EV tax credit on September 30. For last-minute buyers, the base model Cybertruck is the most attractive target. Once the credit is applied, its price drops to a more palatable $64,735.
Tesla appears to be leaning into the rush. The company’s website prominently features the tax credit, and a recent post on X from the official Cybertruck account touted its self-driving features, a clear move to capture the attention of buyers on the fence. “Cybertruck is the only pickup truck that can drive itself anywhere under your supervision,” Tesla posted.
Cybertruck is the only pickup truck that can drive itself anywhere under your supervision https://t.co/sckJTvKJxz
— Cybertruck (@cybertruck) August 3, 2025
For a vehicle that has been bleeding momentum, this last-minute rush could be a chance to finally stem the bleeding. But the real test will come on October 1, when the tax credits are gone and the Cybertruck has to survive on its own merits for the first time. We’ll soon find out if this is a real comeback or just the final, fleeting moment of a hype cycle that has finally run out of gas.
Our Take
The Cybertruck has been a profound disappointment for Tesla, a vehicle that has consistently under-delivered on its own hype. After a disastrous second quarter and a collapse in the used car market, the company has been in damage control mode, even offering desperate promotions like a free accessory with purchase. The sudden spike in demand for the cheapest model is almost certainly a temporary blip caused by the expiring tax credit, a last-minute rush from buyers who see a chance to get a discount on a vehicle that has failed to justify its premium price. Once the government incentives are gone, the Cybertruck will face its true test, and all signs point to a continued and difficult road ahead for Elon Musk’s sci-fi vanity project.
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