Tesla raises Cybertruck prices by $5,000 despite abysmal demand

Tesla quietly raised Cybertruck prices by $5,000, with no changes to the truck itself. The Dual Motor all-wheel drive version now starts at $74,990, up from $69,990, and the Premium AWD went from $79,990 to $84,990. The top Cyberbeast trim stayed at $99,990. This isn't really a story about home energy upgrades, but it's worth knowing if you've been eyeing a Cybertruck as part of an electric vehicle and home solar setup.

The price hike comes despite weak demand. Tesla built its Cybertruck factory to make up to 250,000 trucks a year but is currently selling fewer than 20,000, and has thousands of unsold trucks sitting in inventory. Pricing on the Dual Motor version has swung wildly over the past year, from a brief $59,990 offer down low to $74,990 now — a $15,000 range on essentially the same truck.

If you're already planning to buy an EV, worth remembering that pairing it with home solar can cut charging costs close to zero, since electricity rates rose nearly 10% last year and are expected to keep climbing. Some solar options let you start with no upfront cost through leases or power purchase agreements, which is worth looking into regardless of which EV ends up in your driveway.