News
Tesla Cybertruck reservations peak at over 1 million units, Dual Motor most popular
An online Tesla Cybertruck reservation tracker shows that net reservations for the all-electric pickup have peaked at over 1 million pre-orders. The Cybertruck was unveiled in November 2019 and has accumulated an estimated 1,084,200 pre-orders so far, with the most popular variant being the Dual Motor All-Wheel Drive configuration.
An online Cybertruck reservation tracker that was created around the time of the November 2019 event has tracked nearly every pre-order of the all-electric pickup. It recently crossed the 1,000,000 reservation mark, making it one of the most anticipated Tesla vehicles of all time, without a doubt. Due to its interesting, unorthodox, and robust look, the Cybertruck attracted curiosity from all walks of life: EV owners, pickup owners, and even those who have not yet obtained a driver’s license. However, the demand for the Cybertruck points to one thing for sure, the employees at Giga Texas will be busy, and they’re going to be producing Cybertrucks in massive volumes for years to come.
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According to the reservation tracker, there are 1,084,200 estimated reservations for the Cybertruck. The most popular variant is the Dual Motor All-Wheel-Drive configuration that packs over 300 miles of range, a 0-60 MPH time of less than 4.5 seconds, a towing capacity of over 10,000 pounds, and costs $49,990. 48% of reservation holders have chosen this Cybertruck variant, while 44.5% have chosen the Tri-Motor configuration. Only 7.5% have gone with the Single Motor build; Tesla has stated that it will produce this vehicle in late 2022, a year after Cybertruck production is expected to begin.
Credit: Cybertruck Reservation Tracker
It appears that several sources have indicated that an increase in pre-orders may have occurred recently due to the fresh unveiling of Ford’s all-electric F-150 Lightning. Gali of HyperChange pointed out that some electric truck buyers may have been waiting for Ford to unveil their specs of the F-150 so they could decide what vehicle to purchase. While Rivian is also floating out there with imminent deliveries of the R1T, some buyers may be waiting for the Normal, Illinois-based company to deliver a few thousand units to examine build quality, advantages and disadvantages of the car, and how much other drivers enjoy the Rivian platform.
Gali believes that the Cybertruck’s premium specs were an indication that it was a better option than the F-150, according to truck buyers.
“What it boils down to is, if you’re buying this F-150, you’re paying a premium to the Cybertruck at every level,” Gali said. “You’re paying more money for a car with less range, less towing capacity, less speed.”
Additionally, analyst Gary Black stated that Tesla was “flooded with inquiries following Ford F-150 EV event last week,” according to a Tesla salesperson in Chicago. “Orders for all models are through the roof,” Black said.
Retweeting. I spoke with my $TSLA salesperson in Chicago. TSLA got flooded with inquiries following Ford F150 EV event last week. Orders for all models are through the roof. Last week’s $500 price hike on M3 and M-Y models are to adjust supply/demand imbalances into qtr-end.
— Gary Black (@garyblack00) May 25, 2021
The Cybertruck is slated for a late 2021 production date, but CEO Elon Musk does believe that volume production will begin at Giga Texas next year. If we get lucky, we’ll be able to do a few deliveries toward the end of this year, but I expect volume production to be in 2022,” Musk said.
Check out Gali of HyperChange’s thoughts on the Cybertruck’s comparison to the F-150 Lightning below!
What do you think? Let us know in the comments below, or be sure to email me at joey@teslarati.com or on Twitter @KlenderJoey.
Investor's Corner
SpaceX is launching a secret spacecraft that could change how things are made in space
SpaceX’s secret disk-shaped Starfall capsule is targeting a market no reentry vehicle has cracked.
SpaceX is targeting Tuesday, June 23 for the first flight of Starfall, a reentry capsule the company has developed almost entirely in private. The Falcon 9 launch window opens at 6:43 a.m. ET from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, with a backup window available the same time on June 24. SpaceX has made no public announcement about the vehicle, only providing launch details. Everything known about it has come through FAA and FCC regulatory filings.
What makes Starfall different starts with its shape. Rather than the traditional cone used by Dragon and every other cargo return capsule in operation, Starfall is a flat disk that measures roughly 10.2 feet (3.1 meters) wide and just 2.5 feet (0.75 meters) tall, and weighing 4,630 pounds (2,100 kg) and capable of returning up to 2,200 pounds (1,000 kilograms) of payload from orbit. The disk geometry maximizes structural efficiency and payload volume relative to mass, and the heat shield mechanically jettisons just before splashdown, allowing recovery teams to retrieve both the capsule and the shield separately from the Pacific Ocean.
The difference with Starfall from existing competitors, such as Varda Space Industries, which has largely built the orbital manufacturing market and returns heavy payloads per flight is that Starfall’s specification is roughly 30 times more per mission, and is designed to be mass-produced and launched on either Falcon 9 or Starship. That combination of volume and launch access is something no standalone startup can replicate, and it puts SpaceX in direct competition with the companies that currently pay it to reach orbit.
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The intended market is orbital manufacturing: pharmaceuticals, protein crystals, semiconductors, and advanced optical fiber that physically cannot be produced in the presence of gravity. FAA documents describe Starfall’s long-term purpose as building a “self-sustaining commercial in-space manufacturing market” and as a potential successor to the industrial capabilities of the International Space Station, which is set to retire in the late 2020s. Military rapid global cargo delivery is a parallel application under active discussion with the Pentagon.
The reason some industries seek manufacturing in space comes down to gravity. On Earth, gravity causes materials to settle, separate, and deform during production. In microgravity, those constraints disappear.
SpaceX’s already controls launch access, which means it currently functions as the landlord for every competitor in the orbital manufacturing return space. Starfall converts that landlord position into vertical ownership, and it would no longer just carry other companies’ capsules to orbit, but rather operate the capsule, own the return logistics, and capture the service revenue directly. Viewed alongside Starlink, Colossus, and the xAI merger, Starfall fits a consistent pattern: SpaceX identifying infrastructure layers that others depend on and moving to own them outright. Orbital manufacturing return is the next layer on that list.
If Tuesday’s reentry, parachute sequence, and recovery demonstration goes as planned, the second FAA-approved test flight follows. A successful pair of demos would position SpaceX to begin offering Starfall as a commercial service, likely first to pharmaceutical and materials science customers before scaling toward the military and broader manufacturing segments.
The Tesla Semi was spotted mounted with ground truth validation equipment as the company nears its looming launch. The Semi is Tesla’s Class 8 all-electric truck, and has been utilized in its earlier stages by many companies like PepsiCo. and Frito-Lay, who have been using it in a pilot program.
The Semi was spotted in Sunnyvale, California, and sports a typical ground truth validation unit that Tesla routinely uses on its vehicles. Ground truth validation is essentially the process of training supervised algorithms to ensure they can perform reliably. Tesla typically performs this on vehicles that are being released soon:
Spotted the new semi adorned with ground truthing equipment. Haven’t seen anyone post this so figured I’d share.
The future is autonomous!!@SawyerMerritt @wholemars pic.twitter.com/qkPDHPUQZ6
— Danny (@dannywinner1) June 21, 2026
The Semi being spotted with this type of validation rig is important because it means the company is working on solidifying a Full Self-Driving model for its commercial vehicle offering. This would be a massive development for not only Tesla but also the logistics industry as a whole.
There are strict regulations on driving hours for commercial truck drivers, and autonomy is a way to potentially combat these issues. FSD is already a widely effective way that owners of typical passenger vehicles take stress out of travel. Even launching a semi-autonomous platform for truck drivers to use to increase safety, reduce fatigue, and increase productivity would be a huge development.
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The Semi has already proven to be an ideal solution for companies that use commercial logistics. It has increased efficiency and reduced operating costs for many companies that have been able to use it in pilot programs.
There are expected to be some bumps along the way. Tesla saw some challenges with FSD on the Cybertruck, as it had never had a vehicle with cameras at that height, so some of the features with FSD were not immediately available. Just a week ago, Tesla launched Actually Smart Summon (ASS) for Cybertruck, nearly three years after the vehicle was first delivered to customers.
President Donald Trump unveiled an upgraded Boeing 747-8 at Joint Base Andrews on June 19, 2026, describing the Qatar-gifted aircraft as an interim Air Force One equipped with advanced communications systems, including Starlink, Elon Musk’s SpaceX satellite internet service.
The plane, valued at around $400 million and modified for presidential use, serves as a bridge until the delayed VC-25B replacements arrive. Trump highlighted its luxury features and new technology during remarks to service members.
Trump stated:
“We have communication equipment up there that nobody’s ever seen before. It’s the highest level and, uh, including Starlink. My friend Elon is going to be very happy, but, uh, Starlink and we have, uh, four or five different sets of double and triple communications like people haven’t seen.”
He added:
“And it represents what can happen with hard work, innovation, and aggressive timelines because we did this quickly and yet there’s never been communication like is on this plane.”
🚨 President Trump confirmed today that the new Air Force One is equipped with Starlink:
“We have communication equipment up there that nobody’s ever seen before, it’s the highest level and including Starlink…my friend Elon is going to be very happy.” pic.twitter.com/IhkDmtr5hL
— TESLARATI (@Teslarati) June 20, 2026
The aircraft features a redesigned red, white, and blue livery and has been outfitted with Starlink satellite connectivity alongside other secure systems.
Trump praised the plane’s uniqueness, calling it among the world’s most luxurious. The gift from Qatar and subsequent modifications have drawn attention, with the jet positioned as a solution for presidential travel. It is expected to support operations, including potential ceremonial roles such as Fourth of July flyovers.
The event marked the formal introduction of the converted jet, which will help maintain capabilities while the primary Air Force One fleet undergoes modernization. Defense observers note the inclusion of commercial satellite technology like Starlink as part of efforts to ensure resilient communications, crucial to keep the country running as the President is in the sky.
President Trump’s comments underscored appreciation for rapid upgrades and innovation in equipping the aircraft. The plane remains a U.S. government asset and is slated for eventual transfer related to presidential library purposes after its service.
SpaceX is launching a secret spacecraft that could change how things are made in space
Tesla Semi spotted with ground truth validation equipment as launch looms
