Tesla is not shy about putting their highest performance, most expensive, and highest profit margin trim levels out for sale sooner than base models. We’ve seen it in the past with various performance models and limited editions, and continue to see it with the latest addition to the Tesla lineup, the Cybertruck.
This time, Tesla is coming out of the gate with not only a high-end model, but instead they’re adding a major software and accessory package as an option available only for early reservation holders. This upsell package is called the “Foundation Series” and it’s not cheap.
This $20,000 add-on allows those who purchase to speed up delivery of their truck vs. purchasing a truck without it added. But what does the Foundation Series upgrade involve? How much will it actually speed up your purchase, what’s included, and is it worth the hefty $20,000 price tag?
In this article we’ll be answering all of your questions about the Cybertruck’s special, and limited edition software and accessory package. Let’s dive in to all of the nitty gritty details about exactly what is included with this Foundation Series and try to answer the question, is it worth the price on top of an already premium-priced truck?
How much does the Foundation Series Tesla Cybertruck cost?
For both of the currently available to order models, the dual-motor AWD and the tri-motor “Cyberbeast” variants, the Foundation Series package is another $20,000 on top of the base truck price.
Here’s a breakdown directly from Tesla’s order page for each of the trucks and their prices, both the base models and the Foundation Series upgrade.
Base Price | Foundation Series Upgrade | Total Price | |
Dual-Motor AWD | $79,990 | $20,000 | $99,990 |
Tri-Motor Cyberbeast | $99,990 | $20,000 | $119,990 |
Do I have to buy a Foundation Series to get a Cybertruck?
No. You do not have to buy the Foundation Series upgrade of the Tesla Cybertruck, but if you do Tesla will prioritize your order and you’ll get it much sooner than if you didn’t.
Tesla is prioritizing these upgraded trucks to early reservation holders. These people are likely Tesla’s biggest fans so not only will they be excited for an exclusive edition with plenty of extras, but they’re also more likely to pay more for the privilege of having a very early edition of the truck in their hands before anyone else.
If you are one of the many reservation holders who are excited for a truck but don’t want to plunk down the extra money, don’t worry, you will still get your truck! Once Tesla gets their Foundation Series orders completed they will move in to general production and will begin to honor the existing reservation holders who don’t want the upgrade.
How much does a Foundation Series Cybertruck speed up my delivery?
According to Tesla’s Cybertruck order form, the AWD, dual-motor Cybertruck with a Foundation Series upgrade will be delivered between April and June 2024. The Cyberbeast however has a bit longer to wait and Tesla simply estimates “late 2024” for those deliveries.
Now, we have to make some assumptions for those who have a reservation but are not ready to spend on the additional $20K upgrade. It’s probably fair to say that early reservation holders will begin receiving their trucks after the Foundation Series builds are complete. Realistically, that means that the upgrade will likely speed up delivery time by 4-6 months at least for non Foundation Series orders.
Now, for people who do not have a reservation at all. Going on to Tesla’s website today and ordering without a reservation, they are estimating delivery “in 2024”. If history is any indicator and the Cybertruck is as popular as Tesla’s previous vehicles, there’s a good chance this could more realistically push in to 2025 if you’re ordering without a reservation.
OK, so what even is the Foundation Series Cybertruck?
In short, the Foundation Series is a Cybertruck with all the bells and whistles. This fully-optioned trim level ensures that these buyers are getting every option under the sun to upgrade their Cybertruck experience.
Here's the list of Foundation Series Cybertruck features according to Tesla:
Limited-edition configuration
Laser-etched Foundation Series badge
Foundation Series cabin graphic
20" Cyber Wheels with 35" tires
White decor
premium accessories
Powershare home backup
Powershare mobile connector
Full self-driving capability
Lifetime premium connectivity
Off-road light bar (with the Cyberbeast trim only!)
Tesla has provided a very straightforward list, and we’re going to go line-by-line to explain the upgrades so it’s clear exactly what you’re getting for the money.
Limited-edition Cybertruck configuration
It’s not fully explained what this means, but our best guess is it means that tesla won’t be offering this exact set of features in a single package ever again. It remains to be seen if all of these features will be individually purchase-able, or if they’ll offer similar packages just without the Foundation Series badging to make it “exclusive” but only time will tell.
Cybertruck Laser-etched Foundation Series badge
It seems like the only truly limited edition part of this upgrade available is a unique badge on the outside of the truck, just behind the tops of the front fenders. Tesla Foundation Series Cybertrucks all come with badging that shows the world what it is, however instead of the way most manufacturers put a stick on badge or sticker on to a vehicle, tesla actually laser-etches the logo in to the stainless steel panels themselves.
Cybertruck Foundation series cabin graphic
Similar to the above laser-etched exterior badging. Tesla adds a small “Foundation Series” logo in tot he dashboard of the truck, so those riding inside can also tell you’re rolling around in a limited edition of the futuristic cyberpunk dream ride.
20” Cyber Wheels with 35” tires
Tesla hasn’t announced other wheel options yet, but it’s likely we’ll see some choices in the future as we’ve seen with their other vehicles. Generally there is a performance spec and an efficiency spec available when it comes to tesla wheel and tire packages that buyers can configure at time of purchase.
Cybertruck White interior accents
Tesla has gained a reputation and depending who you speak with, that can be positive or negative. Their stark, minimalist interiors take some getting used to, but you can't deny they've got a unique look.
The Cybertruck Foundation Series comes with a white dashboard and door trim. Personally, I'm not a fan of this in a truck which is likely to get dirty when being used for truck things. For those looking to keep this as a stylish road-car though, it's a touch that will help you stand out even further in a crowd.
At the time of writing, there isn't any other interior color option, but when Cybertrucks roll out to general audiences without the Foundation Series upgrade, it's likely we'll see a choice of black or white option, with white being an additional fee.
Cybertruck Premium accessories
What would a special edition of a truck be without plenty of accessories?
All-weather interior liners. These perfectly-molded floor mats will keep the interior easy to clean and will keel any carpeted areas protected from mud and grime of a worksite or outdoor adventure.
Glass roof sunshade. Tesla glass offers plenty of defense against the head, but even with some great insulated glass, heat and bright light makes its way through the beautiful all-glass roof. This removeable sunshade helps cut down on heat and sunlight. Great if you have small kids as passengers to keep sun out of their faces.
Center console tray. This isn't fully described on the site, but it's likely a small liner tray fit perfectly for the center console. Imagine something similar to the floor mats, but just for the console.
Gear locker dividers. The Cybertruck has a hatch in the bottom of the bed for even more storage. This "gear locker" is normally just a big bin, however these dividers allow owners to split up that space in to smaller sections. This prevents things from rolling around quite as much as they would if it was just a big open space.
Vault d-rings. The "vault" as it's called, is the bed of the Cybertruck. These d-rings allow easy tie-down of items in the vault. This is kind of an expected standard truck feature at this point, but Tesla still includes it in their list of Foundation Series goodies.
L-track hooks. These hooks offer another bed mounting/tie-down option. The l-track is a set of tracks that run along the side of the Cybertruck bed. It allows a simple and adjustable space to attach accessories like tie-downs to haul whatever you need in your Cybertruck's vault.
L-track bottle opener. Another accessory to mount to the l-track, a simple bottle opener. Perfect for tailgating or cracking a cold rootbeer after a day of work.
PowerShare home backup
The Tesla Cybertruck is the first car in Tesla's lineup to allow you to plug it in to your home as effectively a backup generator. Using a full Cybertruck battery, Tesla says you can power an average US home for over 3 days!
Unfortunately though, it's not quite as simple as just plugging in a cable for most people. To safely provide power to the house, a device called a "gateway" is needed. This allows you to easily and safely connect your Cybertruck directly to your home's circuits.
The Foundation Series includes the hardware and cables to make this happen. You will have to find an installer yourself, but it's nice that out of the gate you will be able to take advantage of this unique Cybertruck feature!
PowerShare mobile connector & mobile wall connector
Tesla doesn’t fully describe what this is, but the assumption is that this is a mobile connector similar to what you would purchase with other Tesla models to charge your car at any location with an outlet. The nice thing here though, is that the Cybertruck can also use this cable to share power with other EV’s including Teslas. This instantly makes your Cybertruck a mobile charging station, very cool!
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Full Self-Driving Capability
Tesla is known, somewhat infamously, for their Full Self-Driving capabilities. The Cybertruck Foundation Series includes this as an upgrade within the add-on package.
Adding Full Self-Driving ("FSD" as it's called) normally is a $12,000 upgrade in itself. With the Foundation Series upgrade being $20,000 in total, FSD is eating-up about 60% of the total cost of the upgrade. Not as bad of a deal as it seems on the surface!
Lifetime Premium Connectivity
Premium Connectivity allows Tesla vehicles full access to a wireless data connection, anywhere you are. Using the same network as cell phones, Tesla's use Premium Connectivity to stream music, get live traffic data, and allow users access to browse the internet and watch video (only while parked, great for Supercharging sessions!).
Premium connectivity is $9.99 a month, or $99 a year currently. If we assume an owner will keep a Cybertruck for at least 6-10 years, that's $594-$1,198 in total. Hey, every bit helps!
Off-Road Light Bar
What would a cool truck be without lighting to show you the path ahead? The Tesla Cybertruck has a hidden exterior power plug for accessories just like this, and Tesla is making their own light bar that can be installed at the top of the massive window.
This of course is no ordinary light bar. The Tesla off-road light bar is integrated perfectly with the truck's design. It's angular and sleek to sit above the window while being designed to match the look and feel of the truck overall. Frankly, it just adds to the futuristic appeal
The main downside to this feature is that it looks like it will be a place for wind resistance to build. I can't wait for someone to do some range and efficiency tests with and without the bar to see if it harms the distance the truck can go.
What do Foundation Series accessories cost on their own?
Now that we've got the full list together, we can try to estimate the price of everything you get with a Founders Series truck if you were to buy it individually.
Feature | Price | |
20" Cyberwheels with 35" Tires: | $4,000 | Est. from single wheel with extras is $1,250 |
White Decor | $1,000 | Est. from other basic interiors |
All-Weather Interior Liners | $295 | |
Glass Roof Sun Shade | $115 | |
Center Console Tray | $40 | |
Vault D-Rings | $40 | |
L-Track Hooks | $25 | |
L Track Bottle Opener | $25 | |
Powershare Backup Gateway | $700 | est. based on the value provided if a customer does not accept this option |
Home Wall Connector | $450 | |
Powershare Mobile Connector | $250 | |
Full Self-Driving Capability | $12,000 | |
Lifetime Premium Connectivity | $600 | est. based on 6 years of truck ownership |
Off-Road Light Bar | $900 | Est. based on other similar truck light bars |
TOTAL EST. | $20,440 |
Based on this list of currently priced accessories and estimates for items not individually purchasable, it looks like the Foundation Series is a great option for someone who wanted to deck-out their Cybertruck anyway. Plus you get the added perk of being one of the first to get your truck!