That happened relatively quickly. Although Tesla had made it clear before the Cybertruck was delivered that it did not want to see resales in the first year after delivery, someone has now done so. As a post on the Cyber Truck Owners Club forum shows, a 2024 Tesla Cybertruck with 69 miles on the clock sold for $244,000. The contract was awarded to a Porsche dealer from Florida.
The price is a first record, as there are currently no comparable sales. And the auction sets an interesting precedent. Because $244,000 is more than twice what Tesla is charging for the Cybertruck from customers who have reserved the car for a long time and now have the opportunity to buy the cars from the manufacturer.
This should make current owners’ eyes wide open, because if you are able to buy a Cybertruck, there will be a quick and extremely profitable windfall. Of course, this creates lively discussions. The most important question: What will Tesla do now?
After the manufacturer included a corresponding clause in the contractual conditions for buyers of a Cybertruck months ago, which prohibits resale under threat of legal action (you can find out more here), all eyes are now on Tesla.
The order agreement still states: “You understand and acknowledge that the Cybertruck will initially be delivered in limited quantities. You agree that you will not sell or otherwise attempt to sell the vehicle within the first year of the delivery date sell.”
Concrete steps are even being announced. The manufacturer writes: “You agree that if you violate this provision, or Tesla has reasonable grounds to suspect that you are about to violate this provision, Tesla may seek an injunction restraining the transfer of ownership of the vehicle, or recover liquidated damages from you in the amount of $50,000 or the value received in consideration for the sale or transfer, whichever is greater.”
If Tesla fails to aggressively pursue the initial resale, which appears to be in clear violation of the rules, it could mean an extremely unpleasant situation for those who actually want to drive the car. If it becomes clear that Tesla threatens to act in the event of profitable resales, but ultimately nothing is done, the Cybertruck trade could turn into the most promising business since the Playstation 5.
As a reminder: For a long time, the console was hardly available in stores at the original price because so-called “scalpers”, to put it simply, profit-oriented resellers, bought up every console in order to pass it on at a premium.
However, if Tesla decides to want to make a statement, that too will be extremely interesting. It is currently completely unclear whether such a prohibition clause would even hold up in court in the USA – apart from the fact that each state could make this decision differently. A user on the “Owners Club” writes: “Such a case has not yet been heard in court. A trial could take a few years? There will probably be an appeal.”
It remains to be seen whether the big wave of Cybertruck auctions will begin in the USA. With a profit of over $100,000 per vehicle, it is at least conceivable.
