September 25th, 2024
Since 2019, Australia has alongside other countries, waited with bated breath for the strange science-fiction looking entity, that’s on character for Elon Musk, to enter the market. However, despite Elon’s previous claim that the Cybertruck would be available in Australia in 2023, currently no one in Australia owns one. Now it’s on our shores, on tour.
So what’s next for one of the most interesting vehicles at the moment? And when can anyone in Australia buy one?
When Tesla announced the Cybertruck, it captured the imagination of the automotive world with its radical design and promised capabilities. Its unique, sharp-edged stainless-steel body, claimed to be bulletproof, and impressive performance specs position it as a revolutionary figure in the pickup truck arena.
Currently, Tesla offers several configurations in North America, including the high-powered 600-hp Dual Motor model and the 834-hp Beast model (tri-motor), both equipped with all-wheel drive.
The Cybertruck's aesthetics are a departure from traditional pickup trucks, featuring a futuristic, polygonal form that might not appeal to everyone. Its design is both a statement and a functional aspect, providing durability with its hardened exterior.
While this design has received mixed reactions, it undeniably sets the Cybertruck apart in a market filled with more conventionally styled vehicles.
There’s no official reason released by Tesla for why the vehicle is called ‘Cybertruck’.
However ‘CYBER’ in the 90s - the ‘Synthwave Era’ - was popularly used to describe the peak of technological advancement. We think it fits its futurist design and innovative features.
Elon Musk admitted himself the Cybertruck’s design was inspired by Blade Runner and James Bond’s famous ‘Wet Nellie,’ a custom car built as a submarine that let the spy character travel underwater in the film ‘The Spy Who Loved Me’.
In line with Tesla’s sustainability brand, all Cybertruck models are EV vehicles and are powered by electricity. They don’t contain a conventional engine. Each Cybertruck model contains at least one AC permanent magnet synchronous motor and either one or two AC induction motors (for the tri-motor version).
The Tesla Cybertruck promises impressive performance. The dual-motor version boasts a 0-60 mph acceleration of just 3.9 seconds with a top speed of 112 mph, while the tri-motor setup can hit 60 mph in an astonishing 2.6 seconds. These models also offer significant towing capacities of up to 11,000 pounds, combining utility with high performance.
Equipped with a large battery pack, the Tesla Cybertruck offers a driving range of up to 340 miles on a single charge, with potential increases with an optional range-extender battery.
The Cybertruck supports fast charging, capable of adding 136 miles of range in just 15 minutes when connected to a Tesla Supercharger.
Tesla equips the Cybertruck with standard safety features such as automated emergency braking, lane departure warning, and adaptive cruise control.
Tesla performed their own in-house crash testing and showcased their results in this video here (presented by Carscoops.
The company has yet to conduct official independent testing from other agencies like the NHTSA or IIHS. If you want to learn more about how a Tesla Cybertruck handles a crash, you can see this ‘real world crash test’ where the vehicle got T-boned.
Yes, however it is important to remember that you keep your hands on the wheel. Autopilot does not replace your responsibility as a driver to ensure safety on the road.
This feature is standard with all Tesla vehicles. Learn more about Tesla Cybertruck’s autopilot feature here.
Inside, the Tesla Cybertruck sports a minimalist interior similar to that of the Model 3. It features a large touchscreen that controls most of the vehicle's functions and offers a spacious front trunk (frunk) for additional storage.
Despite its utilitarian exterior, Cybertruck’s interior provides enviable comfort. Please note it lacks compatibility with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Cyberbeast, All-Wheel Drive & Rear-Wheel Drive
Specification | Cyberbeast (tri-motor version) | All-Wheel Drive | Rear-Wheel Drive |
|---|---|---|---|
Range (Est.) | 515 km | 547 km | 402 km |
Range (+Range Extender) | 705+ km | 755+ km | N/A |
Acceleration (0-100 km/h) | 2.7 sec | 4.3 sec | 6.7 sec |
Drive | All-Wheel Drive | All-Wheel Drive | Rear-Wheel Drive |
Top Speed | 209 km/h | 180 km/h | 180 km/h |
Towing Capacity | 4,990 kg | 4,990 kg | 3,402 kg |
Weight | 3,104 kg | 2,995 kg | N/A |
Cargo Volume | 3,423.5 litres | 3,423.5 litres | N/A |
Wheels | 20" | 20" | N/A |
Seating Capacity | 5 Adults | 5 Adults | N/A |
Centre Touchscreen | 18.5” | 18.5” | N/A |
Rear Touchscreen | 9.4” | 9.4” | N/A |
Ground Clearance | 406 mm in Extract Mode | 406 mm in Extract Mode | N/A |
Width (Folded Mirrors) | 2,200.7 mm | 2,200.7 mm | N/A |
Width (Extended Mirrors) | 2,413.3 mm | 2,413.3 mm | N/A |
Height | 1,790.8 mm | 1,790.8 mm | N/A |
Length | 5,682.9 mm | 5,682.9 mm | N/A |
Supercharging Max | 250 kW Max; Pay per use | 250 kW Max; Pay per use | N/A |
Charging Speed | Up to 206 km added in 15 minutes | Up to 235 km added in 15 minutes | N/A |
Basic Vehicle | 4 years or 80,000 km | 4 years or 80,000 km | N/A |
Battery & Drive Unit | 8 years or 240,000 km | 8 years or 240,000 km | N/A |
Currently, the Tesla Cybertruck is not available for sale in Australia.
Tesla took down its pre-order form on its website for Australia in May of 2022. Since then, Tesla has given no warnings or information about providing deposit refunds.
If you’re interested in the Cybertruck, you can register your interest on Tesla's website here to receive updates.
Tesla has made no hard commitments. But we - along with many automotive insiders - are anticipating that it will.
Tesla is putting in the effort to run a promotional tour this year (2024) and is continuing to take interest with its update form. This hints that Tesla is still interested in releasing the Cybertruck here, but whether the company commits to an Australian release might depend on the continued interest and pre-orders they get first.
Current speculation has no hard consensus on just ‘when’. We’ve seen reports anticipating a 2025 release, while others anticipate that it will come no earlier than 2031, as Tesla has a lot of back orders to first fulfil (over two million pre-orders, primarily from the US).
However, we may not see the same version that is available currently in North America.
Elon Musk told a Tesla shareholder meeting, as reported on Drive:
"We might be able to certify it [Cybertruck] for other markets sometime next year [2025], but for sure this year it’s just North America,"
"We did design the car to North American requirements, because if you start going with the superset of all international requirements, it forces a lot of constraints on Cybertruck that would make the product, frankly, worse.”
I think we’ll need to make a special version that is, for example, China-compliant or Europe-compliant, but it doesn’t really make sense to add that complexity until we’ve achieved higher-volume production on Cybertruck."
On top of possibly new design changes to meet international design requirements, Australia will also need right-hand-drive changes to meet the way we drive on the road.
Tesla is currently running a tour of this vehicle this year: Cybertruck Tour Down Under 2024.
These events are allowing keen potential buyers and Tesla enthusiasts the chance to get a closer look at the innovative vehicle, although test drives of the vehicle have not been offered.
The Tesla Cybertruck was just recently touring different showroom locations across NSW:
Automotive insiders predict that the electric pick-up will also soon arrive in Victoria, and then arrive in Brisbane, Queensland.
On June 24 (2024), the Cybertruck was spotted on the back of a transport truck in Mulgrave (South-East Melbourne), where Tesla just recently opened a showroom. We predict this to be the first showroom promotional showing in Melbourne.
Other locations and dates for the Cybertruck showings are yet to be announced.
Cybertruck Cyberbeast - *$99,990 USD ($150,416 AUD) Cybertruck All-Wheel Drive - *$79,990 USD ($120,330 AUD) Cybertruck Rear-Wheel Drive - *$60,990 USD ($91,748 AUD) These AUD prices are based on USD to AUD conversion rates as of 26/6/24. Remember to calculate these numbers through the current exchange rate of the day for the most accurate results.
*As of now, the Tesla Cybertruck is not available for purchase in Australia, and there is no confirmed release date. The design changes and freight deliveries may also add some extra cost to the final pricing for this vehicle once it hits the Australian market.
The Tesla Cybertruck has been repeatedly hit with a slew of production delays, not just in Australia but across all its other estimated international markets. Currently, the Cybertruck is only available in North America.
Since its unveiling, the Tesla Cybertruck has generated significant interest, accumulating a substantial number of pre-orders. Reports suggest that Tesla has over two million pre-orders for the Cybertruck, primarily from the U.S. market. This high demand poses a significant challenge for production scalability, especially considering Tesla's current production capabilities.
Tesla's main production facility for the Cybertruck is the Gigafactory in Texas, which has been ramping up to meet the overwhelming demand. As of the latest updates, Tesla aims to produce approximately 250,000 units annually by 2025. Given these figures, it could take several years to fulfill existing pre-orders, which complicates the timeline for any potential release outside of North America, including Australia.
The Tesla Gigafactory in Texas is currently the sole manufacturing hub for the Cybertruck. This facility's focus is on optimising production lines and reducing manufacturing costs before considering expansion into international markets.
The intricacies of producing a vehicle as unique as the Cybertruck, with its unconventional design and materials, add layers of complexity to this process.
Elon Musk has indicated that any expansion of the Cybertruck into global markets would require adaptations to meet various international regulations, which might require significant redesigns.
CarsGuide’s Richard Berry analysed Tesla Cybertruck’s specs against Australia Design Rules and found nothing in its design (besides the left-hand-drive configuration) is stopping it from meeting our rules. This may just necessitate only a change to a right-hand drive version for the Australian market.
(*Please note, we don’t know whether this will be a change that is added on top of the current North American model once we get it, or a European-compliant or alternative upgraded version.)
The biggest challenge ahead may just be production.
Unmatched innovation, technology, and range.
Excellent off-road capabilities, luxury, and adventure features.
Trusted brand, practical features, and good range.
Promising range, performance, and design.
High performance, luxury, and off-road features.
Anticipated modern design and technology (speculative).
Rugged design, utility, and off-road capability.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Performance: With options that offer up to 834 horsepower (Beast), the Cybertruck is a powerful vehicle with great acceleration. | Design Divisiveness: Its unconventional look might not appeal to traditional truck buyers. |
| Durability: The robust stainless-steel body is designed for longevity and rugged use. | Safety Concerns: The flat-front design has raised questions about pedestrian safety. |
| Luxury & Innovative Features: Includes autopilot, steer-by-wire system, adjustable air suspension, and a versatile cargo area. | Fingerprint Magnet: Apparently, it's super easy to leave fingerprints on the Cybertruck’s external shell. Lots of people don't like this. |
| It’s big and heavy: It also will not be able to be classified as a light-commercial use vehicle in Australia. | |
| We don’t know for certain when it’s really coming. |
Despite these challenges, interest in the Tesla Cybertruck in Australia remains high.
However, if you are looking for a new vehicle soon, you may want to continue to look around.
Kia is also looking to release an electric version of their Kia Tasman Ute internationally in 2026, which may rival and dominate the new-release electric pickup market in Australia before the Tesla Cybertruck has the chance to start stirring up roadside envy.
Want to get a closer look at the Tesla Cybertruck? Depending where you are in Australia, now may be the perfect time - with Tesla’s Cybertruck Tour Down Under 2024.
Follow @teslaaunz on Instagram to stay on top of any new updates.
When the time finally comes for the Tesla Cybertruck to reach our shores, for sales and not just on tour, there are several options you can consider to finance a new Tesla Cybertruck:
Opting for a Tesla Cybertruck might lead you to consider a secured car loan, typically featuring lower interest rates due to the vehicle serving as collateral. This reduces the lender's risk. Note that any additional accessories or upgrades may not be covered under this type of loan and could require separate financing arrangements.
Some lenders offer specialised loans for eco-friendly vehicles, known as green car loans. These loans often come with attractive terms, such as lower interest rates and reduced fees, supporting the purchase of vehicles like the Tesla Cybertruck.
For those looking to minimise monthly payments, a financing structure with a balloon payment might be appealing. This arrangement involves lower monthly payments throughout the loan term, followed by a lump sum payment at the end. While this can ease your initial financial burden, the overall cost of the loan may be higher. At the term's end, you have the option to pay the final sum or refinance.
If your employer offers a novated lease program, this could be a beneficial way to manage the costs associated with a Tesla Cybertruck. Payments are deducted from your pre-tax salary, potentially offering tax benefits, and typically cover the vehicle's operational expenses, saving you more in running costs.
Business owners or self-employed individuals planning to use the Tesla Cybertruck primarily for business purposes might consider a chattel mortgage. This form of financing allows you to claim tax benefits such as deductions on interest charges and vehicle depreciation.
By understanding these various car loan and financing options, you can better prepare for the purchase of a Tesla Cybertruck, ensuring that you choose the most suitable financial plan to meet your needs.
You can compare financing options from over 75 banks and lenders for loans for personal and business use with Loanoptions.ai.
Julian Fayad
12:37pmMay 30th, 2024
Share
Still have questions?
If you have any questions or enquiries,
visit our FAQ bunker or give us a call
More than 862 smiles, laughs & warcries
