India's First Tesla CyberTruck: Up And Close On Video
The pictures and videos of India's first Tesla Cybertruck are doing rounds on social media. Lavji Daliya, a diamond merchant based in Surat, Gujarat, has brought the EV to India via Carnet. (The Carnet permit system allows vehicles registered in other countries to be used temporarily in India, usually for up to six months.) This Cybertruck, with Dubai registration plates, stands extra special as it belongs to the limited-run Foundation Series. A video shared on the YouTube channel 'Namaste Car' gives a detailed tour of this vehicle.
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A Closer Look At The Cybertruck Foundation Series
The Foundation Series lasted for about 11 months. A slew of unique features and a higher price point distinguished it from the regular Cybertruck. The deliveries of the Foundation series began in November 2023, and the carmaker hasn't revealed the exact sales count yet.
However, data from Kelley Blue Book showed that Tesla sold over 28,000 Cybertrucks between January and September 2024. More than half of those were delivered in the third quarter alone. Most of those units are believed to be Foundation Series models.
Although Tesla did not share a complete list of what made the Foundation Series unique, early owners received several exclusive benefits. These included special ' Foundation Series' badges, premium tech upgrades, better-looking interior layout and trims (than the regular Cybertruck), and a collection of exclusive accessories. The Foundation Series also came with priority delivery, making it more attractive to early adopters.
The Cybertruck is a large vehicle, measuring nearly 5.9 meters in length. It features a stainless steel exterior that gives it a rugged, sci-fi look. Interestingly, the rear quarter panel of this specific truck has the owner's company name (Gopin Developers) etched into it.
Like other Teslas, the Cybertruck comes with a minimalistic dashboard. There are no physical buttons, and all functions are controlled through a large touchscreen placed at the center of the dashboard. This screen even replaces the traditional instrument cluster, offering all driving and vehicle information in one place.
From the driver’s seat, the view is wide and clear, thanks to the high driving position. The cabin feels futuristic, staying true to Tesla’s unique approach to design and technology.
It is clear from the video that this Cybertruck is equipped with Tesla's advanced self-driving system. Other videos being circulated on social media show this feature to work well on the Indian roads. However, it’s unclear whether the system has been adapted to handle Indian-specific road challenges, such as stray animals.
Now that the limited-run Series is no longer available, the starting price for the standard Cybertruck has dropped. The All-Wheel Drive model is now listed at $79,990 (roughly 67.67 lakh INR, considering $1= Rs 84.6). This makes it significantly more affordable than the Foundation Series, which had a much higher price tag due to its loaded nature.
More About The (Regular) Cybertruck
Tesla continues to offer powerful specs even in the regular version of the Cybertruck. The standard All-Wheel Drive variant comes with an EPA-estimated range of 524 km. It can go from zero to 100 kph in just 4.1 seconds and has a towing capacity of 11,000 pounds (roughly 5 tons).
For those seeking even more power, there is a Cyberbeast trim on sale, which comes with a tri-motor setup that delivers 834 hp, and does 0-100 kph in just 2.6 seconds. The range here, would be just 484 km per charge. The battery pack here is a 122.4 kWh unit. The vehicle shown in this video seems is reported to be the dual-motor version.
Will The Cybertruck Launch In India?
Tesla is also preparing to bring its more affordable electric cars to India. The company has been testing the Model 3 and Model Y on our roads, with plans to launch them in the near future. It, however, remains unclear if Elon Musk's EV company would bring its prestigious (and radical) pickup truck to the Indian shores.