Tesla has started sending out invitations to order the non-Foundation Series Cybertruck, which starts at $79,990 before options. While Tesla’s order page for the Cybertruck as of writing is still displaying the Foundation Series variant as of writing, the start of production for the all-electric pickup truck’s standard variants seems poised to start soon.
The Foundation Series added $20,000 to the Cybertruck’s base price, which means that the Cybertruck All Wheel Drive (AWD), which starts at $79,990 before options, became a $99,990 vehicle, and the tri-motor Cyberbeast, which starts at $99,990, became a $119,990 all-electric pickup truck. The Foundation Series added a lot of extras and perks, but it did raise the entry price for buyers.
As could be seen in screenshots and videos that have been shared on social media platforms like X and forums like the Cybertruck Owners Club, the removal of the Foundation Series now enables customers to order the all-electric pickup truck without any extras. Thus, if a customer opts for a Cybertruck AWD with Core Wheels and Covers, Tactical Grey Decor, no Full Self-Driving (FSD), and no accessories, they could acquire the vehicle for $79,990 before taxes and fees.
BREAKING: Tesla has officially begun inviting people to order the less expensive non-Foundation Series Cybertrucks!
It starts at $79,990. The $99,990 ti-motor Cyberbeast is also now available to order.
Production of cheaper Cybertrucks is finally about to start! pic.twitter.com/mTFUbZu1MK— Sawyer Merritt (@SawyerMerritt) October 4, 2024
Tesla has not indicated if the Cybertruck AWD qualifies for the U.S. federal tax credit. Screenshots that were posted online also indicate that non-Foundation Series Cybertruck deliveries are estimated to start in October to November 2024. Interestingly enough, the range of the standard Cybertruck AWD is listed at 325 miles per charge, lower than the 340-mile Foundation Series Cybertruck AWD.
NEWS: Tesla has released pricing for the all the options on the non-foundation series Cybertruck.
• Cyber Wheels and Covers: $3,500
• White Interior color: $2,000. Tactical Gray comes standard.
• FSD: $7,000 (for early reservation holders).
• Range extender: $16,000… pic.twitter.com/PY2LigJAJT— Sawyer Merritt (@SawyerMerritt) October 4, 2024
As observed by some members of the Tesla community, if customers order a standard Cybertruck with all the options that came with a Foundation Series vehicle, the difference in price becomes quite minimal. FSD, for example, costs $7,000 for early reservation holders ($8,000 for new orders), the Cyber Wheels and Covers cost $3,500, and the White Interior Color costs $2,000.
pic.twitter.com/DC4sCDc7tG— Cybertruck Architect (@CybrtruckNews) October 4, 2024
Add in the $2,500 Tesla Shop voucher, 3D All-Weather Interior Liners, Gear Locker Dividers, Glass Roof Sunshade, D-Rings, L-Track Hooks, L-Track Bottle Opener, Center Console Tray, Powershare Home Backup capability, Powershare Mobile Connector, lifetime Premium Connectivity, and Off-Road Light Bar for the Cyberbeast that came with the Foundation Series, and it all comes to about a $3,000 premium or less for early adopters. Considering these savings, some customers have noted that the Foundation Series premium was worth it.
Don’t hesitate to contact us with news tips. Just send a message to simon@teslarati.com to give us a heads up.
News
Tesla to improve one of its best features, coding shows
According to the update, Tesla will work on improving the headlights when coming into contact with highly reflective objects, including road signs, traffic signs, and street lights. Additionally, pixel-level dimming will happen in two stages, whereas it currently performs with just one, meaning on or off.
Tesla is looking to upgrade its Matrix Headlights, a unique and high-tech feature that is available on several of its vehicles. The headlights aim to maximize visibility for Tesla drivers while being considerate of oncoming traffic.
The Matrix Headlights Tesla offers utilize dimming of individual light pixels to ensure that visibility stays high for those behind the wheel, while also being considerate of other cars by decreasing the brightness in areas where other cars are traveling.
Here’s what they look like in action:
- Credit: u/ObjectiveScratch | Reddit
- Credit: u/ObjectiveScratch | Reddit
As you can see, the Matrix headlight system intentionally dims the area where oncoming cars would be impacted by high beams. This keeps visibility at a maximum for everyone on the road, including those who could be hit with bright lights in their eyes.
There are still a handful of complaints from owners, however, but Tesla appears to be looking to resolve these with the coming updates in a Software Version that is currently labeled 2026.2.xxx. The coding was spotted by X user BERKANT:
🚨 Tesla is quietly upgrading Matrix headlights.
Software https://t.co/pXEklQiXSq reveals a hidden feature:
matrix_two_stage_reflection_dip
This is a major step beyond current adaptive high beams.
What it means:
• The car detects highly reflective objects
Road signs,… pic.twitter.com/m5UpQJFA2n— BERKANT (@Tesla_NL_TR) February 24, 2026
According to the update, Tesla will work on improving the headlights when coming into contact with highly reflective objects, including road signs, traffic signs, and street lights. Additionally, pixel-level dimming will happen in two stages, whereas it currently performs with just one, meaning on or off.
Finally, the new system will prevent the high beams from glaring back at the driver. The system is made to dim when it recognizes oncoming cars, but not necessarily objects that could produce glaring issues back at the driver.
Tesla’s revolutionary Matrix headlights are coming to the U.S.
This upgrade is software-focused, so there will not need to be any physical changes or upgrades made to Tesla vehicles that utilize the Matrix headlights currently.
Elon Musk
xAI’s Grok approved for Pentagon classified systems: report
Under the agreement, Grok can be deployed in systems handling classified intelligence analysis, weapons development, and battlefield operations.
Elon Musk’s xAI has signed an agreement with the United States Department of Defense (DoD) to allow Grok to be used in classified military systems.
Previously, Anthropic’s Claude had been the only AI system approved for the most sensitive military work, but a dispute over usage safeguards has reportedly prompted the Pentagon to broaden its options, as noted in a report from Axios.
Under the agreement, Grok can be deployed in systems handling classified intelligence analysis, weapons development, and battlefield operations.
The publication reported that xAI agreed to the Pentagon’s requirement that its technology be usable for “all lawful purposes,” a standard Anthropic has reportedly resisted due to alleged ethical restrictions tied to mass surveillance and autonomous weapons use.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is scheduled to meet with Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei in what sources expect to be a tense meeting, with the publication hinting that the Pentagon could designate Anthropic a “supply chain risk” if the company does not lift its safeguards.
Axios stated that replacing Claude fully might be technically challenging even if xAI or other alternative AI systems take its place. That being said, other AI systems are already in use by the DoD.
Grok already operates in the Pentagon’s unclassified systems alongside Google’s Gemini and OpenAI’s ChatGPT. Google is reportedly close to an agreement that will result in Gemini being used for classified use, while OpenAI’s progress toward classified deployment is described as slower but still feasible.
The publication noted that the Pentagon continues talks with several AI companies as it prepares for potential changes in classified AI sourcing.
Elon Musk
Elon Musk denies Starlink’s price cuts are due to Amazon Kuiper
“This has nothing to do with Kuiper, we’re just trying to make Starlink more affordable to a broader audience,” Musk wrote in a post on X.
Elon Musk has pushed back on claims that Starlink’s recent price reductions are tied to Amazon’s Kuiper project.
In a post on X, Musk responded directly to a report suggesting that Starlink was cutting prices and offering free hardware to partners ahead of a planned IPO and increased competition from Kuiper.
“This has nothing to do with Kuiper, we’re just trying to make Starlink more affordable to a broader audience,” Musk wrote in a post on X. “The lower the cost, the more Starlink can be used by people who don’t have much money, especially in the developing world.”
The speculation originated from a post summarizing a report from The Information, which ran with the headline “SpaceX’s Starlink Makes Land Grab as Amazon Threat Looms.” The report stated that SpaceX is aggressively cutting prices and giving free hardware to distribution partners, which was interpreted as a reaction to Amazon’s Kuiper’s upcoming rollout and possible IPO.
In a way, Musk’s comments could be quite accurate considering Starlink’s current scale. The constellation currently has more than 9,700 satellites in operation today, making it by far the largest satellite broadband network in operation. It has also managed to grow its user base to 10 million active customers across more than 150 countries worldwide.
Amazon’s Kuiper, by comparison, has launched approximately 211 satellites to date, as per data from SatelliteMap.Space, some of which were launched by SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket. Starlink surpassed that number in early January 2020, during the early buildout of its first-generation network.
Lower pricing also aligns with Starlink’s broader expansion strategy. SpaceX continues to deploy satellites at a rapid pace using Falcon 9, and future launches aboard Starship are expected to significantly accelerate the constellation’s growth. A larger network improves capacity and global coverage, which can support a broader customer base.
In that context, price reductions can be viewed as a way to match expanding supply with growing demand. Musk’s companies have historically used aggressive pricing strategies to drive adoption at scale, particularly when vertical integration allows costs to decline over time.

