Tesla abandons Cybertruck range extender, offers refunds

Tesla pulled the plug on its planned range extender for the Cybertruck, leaving some early buyers who paid for the upgrade eligible for a full refund. The option to reserve the range extender disappeared from the company's website not too long ago, suggesting trouble for the much-awaited accessory.

The range extender was introduced as a solution to the Cybertruck's far-lower-than-expected real-world driving range. Tesla initially boasted that the top-tier "Cyberbeast" model would achieve over 500 miles on a single charge. But when the electric pickup finally started reaching customers in December 2023, the actual range for this version was closer to 320 miles.

BREAKING: Tesla has cancelled the Cybertruck Range Extender.

“We are no longer planning to sell the Range Extender for Cybertruck. As a result, we will be refunding your deposit in full” pic.twitter.com/yb1xOqecX2

— Sawyer Merritt (@SawyerMerritt) May 7, 2025

To bridge this disappointing gap, Tesla designed a separate battery pack that could be installed in the truck bed, promising an extra 120 miles of range. This upgrade came with a hefty price tag of $16,000. Customers who put down a $2,000 deposit for the range extender will now receive their money back.

Recent sales figures indicate growing challenges for the electric vehicle. According to some reports, Tesla sold only 6,406 Cybertrucks in the first quarter of this year - a huge drop from the previous quarter. This means the company is sitting on approximately $200 million worth of unsold vehicles, with several factors contributing to this dramatic slowdown, including Cybertruck's high price, issues with quality control, and public opinion.

The cancellation of the range extender is not the only sign of trouble for Tesla. The latest reports have indicated a rise in the number of used Tesla EVs being listed for sale, suggesting that a lot of owners are moving away from the brand. The company's profits in the first quarter of 2025 saw a sharp decline of 71%, and while some attribute these challenges to CEO Elon Musk's handling of the brand, Musk himself blamed "shadowy forces" for hindering the company's progress.

Via