Tesla has scrapped its plans to promote a spread extender for the Cybertruck, the automaker has notified prospects who’ve beforehand paid a $2,000 reservation payment for the $16,000 add-on. Primarily based on copies of the e-mail folks have been posting on social networks and boards, Tesla shall be refunding their deposits in full. It did not say why it is now not planning to promote the accent, however the emails come a month after the corporate quietly pulled the choice so as to add it to the automobile from its web site configurator.
The vary extender is a battery pack that was purported to be put in on the mattress of the Cybertruck. It was Tesla’s reply to releasing autos that had shorter ranges than it initially promised. When the corporate first unveiled the mannequin, it mentioned completely different variations would have completely different ranges, together with one which has a 500-mile vary. As a substitute, the long-range Cybertruck, which has the longest vary, can solely final for 350 miles on a single cost. As Electrek famous late final 12 months, the battery pack was supposed to start out transport in early 2025, however Tesla pushed again its launch to mid-2025 and in addition decreased its promised vary from 470 miles to 445 miles.
Elon Musk beforehand mentioned that he expects Tesla to promote between 250,000 to 500,000 Cybertrucks a 12 months. Nonetheless, a current recall confirmed that the automaker offered fewer than 50,000 items over a 15-month interval. It is unclear whether or not the corporate determined to drag the plug on the vary extender as a result of it is not value manufacturing a brand new product for a mannequin that is performing far under expectations, or if it has another excuse altogether. Both approach, the Cybertruck’s battery add-on has been cancelled and will not be seeing the sunshine of day.
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