(Source: Top Gear)
On March 11th (local time), a man was blacklisted for listing his Tesla Cybertruck for sale on a trading site for used goods.
Dennis, an IT manager in Arizona, reportedly listed his Cybertruck on several secondhand trading sites.
(Source: Cybertruck Owners Club)
However, after listing the vehicle, he received an email from Tesla outlining the penalties he would face in the future for attempting to resell the Cybertruck.
In the email, Tesla stated that all future orders would be canceled without a refund of the $100 deposit and the $250 order fee. Dennis had two other Tesla vehicles reserved in addition to the Cybertruck, which he listed on the secondhand trading site, and Tesla has canceled these reservations.
(Source: Tesla)
The author finds Tesla’s actions unjust, as he only listed the Cybertruck for sale but did not proceed with the trading.
Several used Cybertrucks are already listed for sale. The UK’s Daily Mail reported that at least 20 listings are on one site alone, with some being cross-posted on multiple sites.
The prices vary greatly for each listing, with Dennis listing his vehicle for $242,069 (approximately 317,000,000 KRW). This is higher than the Cybertruck’s starting price of $69,900 (approximately 79,970,000 KRW).
(Source: Reuters)
Tesla’s action in Dennis’s case may seem excessive. However, the Cybertruck contract contains a “no-resale clause”. It states, “You acknowledge and understand that the Cybertruck was initially released in limited quantities,” and “You agree not to sell or attempt to sell the vehicle within one year of delivery.”
Although it is currently omitted, the clause included that Tesla could sue for a minimum of $50,000 (approximately 66,000,000 KRW) if the customer resold the vehicle within the first year. Tesla removed the clause after some controversy, only to add it back and cause further controversy.
(Source: Tesla)
The reason for prohibiting the resale of the Cybertruck for a certain period is its “limited quantity.” Tesla began to deliver Cybertrucks on November 30th of last year (local time), but the initial quantity was less than expected. Only 10 units were shipped out.
At the time, foreign media pointed out that the number of units was too small compared to the number of pre-orders. According to figures compiled by the auto specialty media Electrek in September of last year, pre-order reservations exceeded 2 million.
Elon Musk stated in a third-quarter earnings conference call last November that he plans to produce 400,000 units annually by 2025. If this trend continues, they will not be able to meet the number of pre-orders, even in 2025.
The number of units shipped to date is unknown. Tesla has not disclosed the number of units shipped since last year’s delivery ceremony.
(Source: Motor Trend)
Several overseas media outlets, including the Wall Street Journal, have pointed to the high manufacturing difficulty of the materials as the cause of the supply shortage. The Cybertruck body uses “stainless steel.” Stainless steel is heavy and hard, which has the advantage of being sturdy.
Elon Musk emphasized its toughness when he revealed the Cybertruck prototype in 2019, claiming it can even protect against bullets. In December of last year, he released a video testing the vehicle’s bulletproof performance by firing directly at the vehicle. Despite dozens of bullets being fired at the Cybertruck, the surface was not penetrated, and only deep dents were made.
However, due to its high material strength, stainless steel takes a lot of time to shape and weld. Further, the Cybertruck did not apply a method of eliminating steps by bending or folding, as done with conventional steel plates. The vehicle steps are managed in micrometers to minimize the deformation of the stainless steel plate.
(Source: AP News)
Online, there is a consensus that the resale of Cubertrucks should be strictly banned given the large number of people waiting for the vehicle, which is currently only available in a small number. Moreover, since Tesla had previously warned in the contract terms, the disadvantages faced by the resale author are justified.
Dennis has yet to take down the Cybertruck listing. He has only lowered the price to $192,069 (approximately 250,000,000 KRW). The American internet media The Street asked Tesla for comments on the blacklist action but has not heard back.
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