Cybertruck deliveries start in Canada as US demand cools further

The Cybertruck has officially landed in Canada. After opening reservations in August, Tesla has started deliveries of the initial units to Canadian customers. With a starting price of CAD 138,000 (approximately $99,000), it likely won't be a mainstream vehicle though.

Canadian buyers are currently limited to the Foundation Series, the higher-priced variant of the Cybertruck. For those seeking the top-of-the-line tri-motor Cyberbeast, the price tag jumps to CAD165,990 (nearly $120,000). This performance-oriented version boasts a Tesla-claimed 0-60 mph acceleration time of 2.7 seconds, 845 horsepower, and a top speed of 130 mph, albeit with a slightly reduced range compared to the base model.

Maybe because of that hefty price tag, Tesla seems to be facing a lukewarm reception for the Cybertruck in Canada. While reservations have been open since August, the automaker's website indicates that new orders can be fulfilled within weeks, suggesting that demand isn't overwhelming.

The US market didn't come close to fulfilling hundreds of thousands of pre-orders either.Tesla has reportedly delivered approximately 30,000 units since its launch about a year ago. The electric pickup truck has thus been substantially behind the numbers achieved by the Model Y and Model 3 even in its launch year.

And after fulfilling all willing pre-orders, Tesla is now able to deliver new Cybertrucks with minimal wait times. Which explains why Tesla is now looking to expand it internationally.

Tesla has not yet released the more affordable trims of the Cybertruck in Canada. If the US market's timeline serves as an indicator, Canadian buyers might have to wait until late next year for the regular Cybertruck to go on sale. Given the existing production capacity and potentially lower demand, a faster rollout wouldn't be entirely surprising, though.

While the Canadian automotive market is smaller than its US counterpart, it has shown a growing appetite for electric vehicles. In the first four months of 2024, Canada experienced a significant surge in electric vehicle registrations, with PHEV registrations up 75% and battery electric vehicle registrations up 57% year-over-year.

Government incentives, particularly in Quebec, are helping with the adoption of EVs in Canada. Unlucky for the Cybertruck, its high price tag excludes it from most of these rebates, except for a CAD10,000 ($7,200) fleet rebate for businesses.

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