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Ford F-150 Lightning details reveal surprising premium over Tesla Cybertruck

Credit: Ford Motor Company and Eric Rihlmann/Instagram

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The Ford F1-150 Lightning is arguably one of the most impressive all-electric pickups on the market today. Starting at a very aggressive price and designed for the F-150’s classic buyers, the Lightning seemed like a great shoo-in as the electric truck market’s next best-seller. Ford, however, has been quite reserved about the Lightning’s full pricing details, at least, until now. And if the recent information about the F-150 Lightning proves accurate, it would appear that Ford’s electric pickup will command a pretty steep premium over the Tesla Cybertruck. 

Users at the Ford enthusiast F150Gen14 forum recently shared a questionnaire that was reportedly sent by the veteran automaker. The questionnaire, which seemed designed to determine which features are preferred by consumers, featured a list of available F-150 Lightning variants and their respective options and prices. This included every trim of the Lightning, from the Pro base model to the top-tier Lightning Platinum series. 

Credit: u/ilata via F150Gen14 forum

Based on the information from the carmaker, non-commercial buyers of the Ford F-150 Lightning could expect to shell out about $53,000 for the XLT trim, but that’s a truck with a conservative 230 miles of estimated range. Customers who prefer an XLT Lightning with longer range could expect to pay an additional $7,000 for its 300-mile battery pack. This is true for the XLT + Premium Package and Lariat variants as well.

This is quite interesting considering that the Ford F-150 Lightning Lariat was already listed with a starting price of $67,474, or close to the starting price of the 500-mile tri-motor Tesla Cybertruck, which starts at $69,990. That’s quite pricey for a vehicle that still starts with only 230 miles of range. Fortunately, Ford’s 300-mile battery becomes standard with the F-150 Lightning Lariat + Premium Package, but that starts at $79,474. 

Credit: Ford Motor Company

The Ford F-150 Lightning Lariat + Premium Package does not only come with the company’s 300-mile range battery. It also comes with a twin-panel moonroof, the company’s BlueCruise driver-assist system, and Phone-as-a-Key features. Interestingly enough, these specs are pretty comparable to the middle-tier Tesla Cybertruck Dual Motor AWD, which is expected to have a range of 300+ miles, as well as standard features like a full glass roof, basic Autopilot, and Phone Key functions. 

The notable difference between the Ford F-150 Lightning Lariat + Premium Package and the Tesla Cybertruck Dual Motor AWD, of course, would be their price. Based on the information reportedly sent by Ford to its customers, the F-150 Lightning Lariat + Premium Package starts at $79,474, while the Cybertruck Dual Motor AWD starts at $49,990 before options. That’s a premium of nearly $30,000 for the F-150 Lightning. With such a price gap in mind, Ford may have to rely more on its reputation and pedigree as a truck-maker to ensure that the Lightning becomes successful like its internal combustion-powered predecessors. 

Do you have anything to share with the Teslarati Team? We’d love to hear from you, email us at tips@teslarati.com.

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Simon is an experienced automotive reporter with a passion for electric cars and clean energy. Fascinated by the world envisioned by Elon Musk, he hopes to make it to Mars (at least as a tourist) someday. For stories or tips--or even to just say a simple hello--send a message to his email, simon@teslarati.com or his handle on X, @ResidentSponge.

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Tesla job postings seem to show next surprise market entry

The company has several job postings for various roles, including Associate Sales Manager, Advisors in Sales and Delivery, and Service Technicians.

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Credit: Felipe Marambio | LinkedIn

Tesla’s recent job postings on its Careers website seem to show its next market entry, and it is a bit of a surprise.

Moving forward, Tesla is basically looking to expand its footprint wherever possible. It has already made a major splash in various global markets, and it has managed to make its way to several regions where things were more difficult and delayed.

Most notably, this includes India, where Tesla just recently started operations.

However, the company is now looking to expand in the Western Hemisphere, and recent job postings from Tesla show that it has its eyes set on a new South American market: Colombia.

The company has several job postings for various roles, including Associate Sales Manager, Advisors in Sales and Delivery, and Service Technicians.

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The locations include Medellin and Bogota, two of Colombia’s most populated and important regions.

Tesla’s presence in South America is extremely limited, and if it decides to launch in Colombia in the coming weeks, it will only be the second country on the continent where the company has a dedicated presence.

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Tesla has only two Supercharger locations in all of South America, both in Chile, and both are located near Santiago, a major city situated in the center of the country. One major thing Tesla will need to do after launching in more countries across South America is to establish a more dedicated charging presence.

Tesla Superchargers follow Model 3 and Model Y to South American country

It is surprising Tesla has not tried to enter Argentina or Brazil, but demand has to be there, and South America is not necessarily a hotbed for electric vehicles.

However, last year saw significant growth in the market for EV demand, with a 187 percent increase year over year, led by Brazil and Uruguay. These statistics come from Bloomberg.

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Tesla Q3 deliveries could exceed expectations: Wolfe Research

“Q3 is poised to be a strong quarter,” the firm noted.

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Credit: Tesla China

Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) could deliver a stronger-than-expected third quarter, as per Wolfe Research, which stated that the EV maker’s vehicle deliveries could reach between 465,000 and 470,000 units this Q3 2025. 

Such results would represent a 22% increase from Q2, topping consensus estimates of 445,000. “Q3 is poised to be a strong quarter,” the firm noted.

U.S. and China demand

In the U.S., Wolfe attributed part of the volume lift to consumers accelerating purchases ahead of the expiration of a $7,500 federal EV tax credit. The firm is also optimistic about China’s deliveries, which the firm noted is trending above prior expectations. Wolfe estimated 165,000–170,000 deliveries in China for the third quarter, or about 10,000 more than its earlier forecast, as noted n a Yahoo Finance report.

The firm noted that these figures do not yet include meaningful contributions from the newly launched Model Y L. “We estimate 165-170k deliveries in Q3, or ~10k above our prior est,” Wolfe stated, though these volumes “largely do not reflect the recent launch of the Model Y L.”

Earnings outlook

Wolfe noted that it expects Tesla’s Q3 earnings per share to fall between $0.55 and $0.60, which is above the current consensus of $0.49 per share. The firm forecasts automotive gross margins, excluding regulatory credits, of about 16.5% to 17%. 

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Looking ahead, Wolfe warned that Q4 could prove more challenging due to U.S. demand being pulled forward by tax incentives. Still, Wolfe suggested that factors like stronger seasonal demand in China and Europe could become tailwinds that could help the company’s volumes in the fourth quarter. The ramp and rollout of the Model Y L and upcoming affordable models could also help bolster the company’s Q4 volumes.

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Tesla China deliveries projected to hit 72,000 in September: Deutsche Bank

Deutsche Bank’s estimate represents a 27% increase from August’s figures.

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Credit: Tesla

Tesla’s sales momentum in China is expected to rise this month, with Deutsche Bank estimating about 72,000 vehicle deliveries for September 2025. 

Deutsche Bank’s estimate represents a 27% increase from August 2025, but is roughly flat compared to the same month last year.

Model Y L launch boosts order flow

Dealer feedback compiled by Deutsche Bank suggests that Tesla China’s new orders in September could reach around 73,000 units, which is roughly up 14% year-over-year, as noted in a CNEV Post report. The increase is attributed in no small part to the Model Y L, a six-seat long-wheelbase variant of the best-selling all-electric crossover that was launched last month. 

Deliveries for the new model began earlier this September, with current orders scheduled for deliveries in November, as per Tesla China’s official website. Analysts also noted that the Model Y L could be a key driver of interest, particularly among larger households looking for vehicles that have higher seating capacity.

Tesla China’s insurance registrations

Tesla’s insurance registrations in China reached 46,950 units in the first three weeks of September 2025, pointing to a steady pace of deliveries for the month. For context, Tesla delivered 57,152 vehicles in August 2025, as per data from the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA). That figure represents a decrease of about 10% year-on-year, but an increase of over 40% from July 2025’s 40,617 units.

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Deutsche Bank’s September projection, if proven accurate, would mark Tesla’s strongest monthly performance since the summer slowdown. China is still critical to Tesla’s overall delivery outlook heading into Q4, and the best-selling Model Y is still expected to play a central role in the company’s sales in the country.

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