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‘Disappointing’: Tesla fans blindsided by $150 email
Fans of Tesla's long-awaited "Cybertruck" have been disappointed to find out it will not be coming to Australia or New Zealand.
- Fans of Tesla’s long-awaited “Cybertruck” have been disappointed to find out it will not be coming to Australia or New Zealand.
- Customers who paid a $150 deposit to be first in line have been told by the manufacturer that they will receive a full refund.
- Tesla’s most controversial vehicle, the Cybertruck became synonymous with Tesla founder Elon Musk’s perceived capitalisation of right-wing values.
Fans of Tesla’s controversial “Cybertruck” have been told the all-electric stainless steel ute will not be coming down under, and thousands of potential buyers who paid a $150 deposit will have their money refunded.
In an email to those who paid the deposit, Tesla said it was scrapping plans to produce the angular ute for a right-hand market.
“Thank you for being an early supporter of Cybertruck and Tesla’s mission,” the email begins.
“We’re writing with an important update regarding your reservation.
“After careful consideration, plans to produce the Cybertruck for Australia and New Zealand have been discontinued.”
The manufacturer did not give a reason why the plans had been discontinued.
“As a result, we’re unable to fulfil your reservation and it will be cancelled,” the email continues.
“You’ll receive a full refund for any payments made.
“We appreciate this may be disappointing news and apologise for any inconvenience caused.”
The Cybertruck was unveiled by Tesla founder Elon Musk in late 2019, where, during the product unveiling, a Tesla chief infamously demonstrated the strength of the ute’s “bulletproof windows.”
Tesla’s head of design, Franz von Holzhausen, threw a metal ball bearing at the Cybertruck’s windows in order to demonstrate its invulnerability.
Both windows visibly shattered during the demonstration.
Soon after the launch, Tesla Australia allowed buyers to place a $150 “reservation fee,” that would guarantee them first opportunity to purchase the Cybertruck when it landed down under.
More than 250,000 people paid the deposit worldwide, but Tesla did not reveal how many of those were from Australia or New Zealand.
A Tesla spokesperson told The Money Edition that all customers will receive their refunds within 30 days.
“We thank these customers for their early support. Customers with a cancelled reservation will be offered a complimentary one-year Full Self-Driving (Supervised) subscription when they order a new Model 3 or Model Y, applied after delivery,” a Tesla Australia and New Zealand spokesperson said.
“We understand this will be disappointing for many, and we appreciate our customers’ understanding. We remain focused on the road ahead for Tesla in Australia and New Zealand, including Full Self-Driving (Supervised) and the recently launched Model 3 Rear-Wheel Drive.”
Many speculated that Australia’s stringent design rules, which require strong protections for pedestrians in the event of a crash, would rule out the Cybertruck from being offered for sale here.