Tesla just scrapped the Cybertruck range extender

Last month, Tesla removed the Cybertruck range extender option from its website, signaling its impending cancellation. Now, the company has officially scrapped the range extender and is refunding the $2,000 deposits that customers had put down for the $16,000 battery pack.

The Cybertruck range extender was intended to address Tesla’s initial failure to meet the promised ranges for the unique pickup truck when it was launched in late 2023. It was supposed to add approximately 120 miles to the vehicle’s range, especially for the tri-motor version, which fell short of its expected 500 miles by offering only 320 miles.

Tesla had planned to boost the range by introducing a separate battery pack, the range extender, to be installed in the pickup’s bed by a Tesla technician. The launch schedule for the pack had been initially set for early 2025, but was later pushed to “mid 2025.”

With the range extender now officially scrapped, customers who had placed deposits for it will not receive the product. The Cybertruck, unveiled in 2019 with its futuristic design, faced production delays before finally starting production at Gigafactory Texas in 2023.

Despite deliveries beginning in December of the same year, only the dual-motor and tri-motor variants were initially available, with customers waiting for the single-motor Long Range model. Sales of the Cybertruck have been disappointing, with only 6,406 units delivered in the first quarter, leading to unsold inventory worth $200 million.

The vehicle has been plagued by quality issues, high pricing starting at $80,000, and increased competition in the electric pickup market, making it challenging for Tesla to boost sales. The decline in Cybertruck sales is reflective of a broader sales decline for Tesla, which some attribute to negative public perception related to Elon Musk’s controversies and political activities.