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Tesla Cybertruck Tri-Motor is surprisingly affordable compared to RAM 1500 TRX
While its design is unapologetically different, the Tesla Cybertruck is built to be a no-compromise alternative to the market’s most compelling pickup trucks. This is part of the reason why Tesla priced the vehicle very reasonably, with the entry-level RWD variant costing less than $40,000 and the top-tier Tri-Motor AWD version starting at less than $70,000. Granted, $70,000 for a pickup truck is not cheap by any means, but it sure is reasonable in comparison to other upcoming trucks from legacy automakers.
Over the years, pickup trucks have transitioned from being pure utility vehicles to luxury, performance machines that are equally capable off-road as they are on paved roads. One such example is Dodge’s RAM trucks. In recent years, RAM Trucks have become more extreme, and this is represented best by the 2021 RAM 1500 TRX, Dodge’s flagship pickup that has over 200 horses more than the Ford F-150 Raptor, thanks to its supercharged 6.2-liter V8 engine that pushes out a whopping 702 hp.
The RAM 1500 TRX has the performance worthy of its flagship status. With its 702 horses, the RAM 1500 TRX is able to accomplish a 0-60 mph time of 4.5 seconds and a quarter-mile time of 12.9 seconds. Top speed is a respectable 118 mph, which is quite noteworthy for a half-ton pickup. But while these specs are definitely impressive, one thing about the RAM 1500 TRX has stood out: its price, which currently stands as the highest in the market.
The RAM 1500 TRX starts at a $71,690 including destination charges, which, interestingly enough, is right on the ballpark of the top-tier Tesla Cybertruck, which starts at $69,900. With Full Self-Driving added, the Cybertruck Tri-Motor AWD could reach a price that’s closer to $80,000. That’s quite still affordable compared to the RAM 1500 TRX, as Dodge’s flagship pickup — when fully loaded with features like radar cruise control, a HUD, and heated leather seats — could hit prices of about $100,000.
A special “Launch Edition” of the RAM 1500 TRX is even available for a price of $92,010 including destination charges. Overall, with its premium price, the RAM 1500 TRX will be the first and only light-duty pickup truck to break the six-figure barrier, at least when the vehicle is expected to go on sale later this year.
This price may very well be challenged by other, upcoming premium trucks coming to market, such as the Rivian R1T, which is created to be a luxurious adventure vehicle with the performance to match. That being said, Rivian has announced earlier this year that the R1T will start under its expected $69,000 price, so it remains to be seen if the top-tier variant of the company’s all-electric pickup would be priced comparably to the RAM 1500 TRX.
As for the Tesla Cybertruck Tri-Motor? The vehicle is looking to be more and more like the bang-for-your-buck pickup when it comes to performance and features. With the $69,900 Cybertruck Tri-Motor AWD, customers could experience a 0-60 mph time of 2.9 seconds and a quarter-mile time of 10.8 seconds, significantly quicker than the flagship RAM.
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The Cybertruck also has a maximum payload capacity of 3,500 pounds and a max towing capacity of over 14,000 pounds, far more than the RAM 1500 TRX’s maximum payload of 1,310 pounds and a max towing capacity of 8,100 pounds. This, coupled with a range of over 500 zero-emissions miles per charge, makes the Cybertruck a very compelling alternative to this generation’s best gas-guzzling pickups.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk has responded to reports that Volvo is officially discontinuing the LiDAR sensor on two of its cars.
Volvo announced that it would officially scrap LiDAR systems on its EX90 and ES90 vehicles in various markets. In Norway, owners will get a €1,800 compensation for features that will never arrive due to this decision. There will be no option to remove the unit from vehicles, either.
The issue stems from Volvo’s supplier, Luminar, and its bankruptcy filing. Luminar will no longer be able to supply LiDAR units to Volvo for the EX90 and ES90, effectively axing any use the unit has on vehicles. Volvo will phase out the data collection processes via the LiDAR system, and it will not be utilized whatsoever.
Musk saw the story on X and responded, stating:
“I did try to warn them. Humans drive using neural nets and optical sensors. Same is true for robot cars.”
I did try to warn them.
Humans drive using neural nets and optical sensors. Same is true for robot cars.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 29, 2026
Musk has been publicly vocal about his disdain for LiDAR systems, once calling them “a fool’s errand,” as he has consistently kept the outlook that they are not needed for effective self-driving.
The typical example used as evidence for this by Musk is humans themselves: made with only eyes and memories, humans are capable of navigating a car by using what they can see and what they’ve personally experienced on the road.
Elon Musk argues lidar and radar make self driving cars more dangerous
“Same is true for robot cars,” Musk says, as Teslas have eight exterior cameras that help see everything surrounding the vehicle, and a neural network that analyzes behavior and tendencies with every mile driven.
Tesla is a vision-only self-driving company that ditched sensors and radar several years ago in favor of cameras. Behind this effort, the company has established a reputation for having one of the most robust self-driving platforms in the world.
Musk’s big bet with Tesla on its self-driving program’s strategy has widely paid off. Other companies continue to utilize things like LiDAR, radar, and sensors for effective self-driving, but Tesla has shown that there is more than one way to give consumers a strong and accurate driver assistance suite.
The real question is: who will be the first company to take Musk’s advice and attempt a self-driving platform based on cameras only, or even license FSD for themselves?
Tesla has started to deploy the 2026 Summer Update to owners across its fleet, and among the biggest changes are improvements to Navigation, a new startup animation for the Model 3 and Model Y, Caraoke scoring, and new capabilities for Grok.
As the update has started making its way to some cars, we can now see a few of the features operating in real-time. We will show you what some of the new features look like in this article, along with some additional details on what changed.
Not all of the new features in the 2026 Summer Update have quite made an appearance, but some of them have, so we’ll show those here:
New Animation Screen for 3/Y
Tesla is rolling out a new startup animation for Tesla Model 3 and Model Y owners. This is present in Launch Edition and Performance Model 3 and Model Y, but other trim levels do not have anything like this.
The new animation screen on Model 3/Y with the 2026 Summer Update
Apparently color will also be customizable: pic.twitter.com/wSdwggtG3S
— TESLARATI (@Teslarati) July 27, 2026
Owners can adjust the color associated with the startup animation to suit their preferences. It is a surprise that more automakers do not focus on this animation for their vehicles; it can be a great first impression piece and make the car immediately feel more luxurious.
Tesla has included this on more premium trims, but it is nice to see it on the Model 3 and Model Y.
Grok Improvements
Grok can now adjust more things in the car outside of the Navigation system. Now, drivers can adjust anything from climate to driving settings by simply speaking to the AI assistant in the car:
@Tesla‘s AI assistant (Grok) with its new vehicle commands in action.
Set the climate, your destination and vehicle settings all in one go! pic.twitter.com/0bBTqaAk6G
— Not a Tesla App (@NotATeslaApp) July 28, 2026
You don’t even have to push a button, either. Instead, you can just say “Hey, Grok,” if you have it enabled. That feature rolled out with the 2026 Spring Update just a few months back.
This is a great feature, especially pertinent for the Robotaxi platform, as there will be no buttons inside the Cybercab when it eventually starts giving rides to the public. It also broadens Grok’s capabilities, which were relatively limited in terms of vehicle setting adjustments beforehand.
Tesla briefly offered one Robotaxi part in its Parts Catalog for your personal car, only to remove it just a short time after it was first noticed.
Tesla’s Robotaxi camera washer apparatus was briefly available for purchase on the company’s Online Parts Catalog. The camera washer was first noticed on Model Y Robotaxi vehicles about six months ago in Austin.
🚨 Tesla looks to have installed Camera Washers on the side repeater cameras on Robotaxis in Austin
pic.twitter.com/xemRtDtlRR— TESLARATI (@Teslarati) January 23, 2026
First noticed by Not a Tesla App, the Camera Washer entries appeared for the new “Juniper” Model Y under a category called “Halo,” which has also now disappeared. Interestingly, Halo probably is related to Tesla’s internal “Project Halo,” which was a project that aimed to retrofit customer-owned Model Ys into functional Robotaxis.
This hardware addition would likely be required for the vehicle to operate as a Robotaxi, as the Camera Washer seems to be a non-negotiable part of the vision-based system Tesla utilizes for self-driving efforts.
However, this part has since been removed and is no longer visible on the EPC.
Now the true question lingers: Why would Tesla add this Camera Washer to the Model Y parts catalog? Is it planning to make it available for owners to utilize on their own cars for personal use, or will it become a prerequisite for Robotaxi operation in customer-owned cars?
While discussing the upgrade options for Hardware 3 vehicles during the Q1 Earnings Call, Tesla CEO Elon Musk had said that the company could establish small, satellite shops that would upgrade cameras and self-driving computers. Perhaps this same strategy could be utilized for vehicles that want to be included in Robotaxi but do not have the correct hardware.
AI4 is currently represented as capable of unsupervised self-driving, and the same was said about HW3 at one point, only for Tesla to admit last quarter that it would, unfortunately, not be possible. Perhaps AI4 vehicles might need this camera washer as a prerequisite, just as HW3 cars will need that camera and computer upgrade.
This could be the first hint of that’s where we are headed.
Elon Musk responds to Volvo’s latest LiDAR decision
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