Man says forget the Tesla Cybertruck, the coolest new EV truck is the tiny MT1 from US startup Telo
- ‘Forget the Cybertruck’ is the plea from one TikTok personality
- The Telo MT1 is being lauded as a new pint-sized competitor
- Can it be the affordable answer to America’s EV truck problem?
Published on Mar 11, 2025 at 9:06 PM (UTC+4)
by Jack Marsh
Last updated on Mar 11, 2025 at 9:54 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Kate Bain
In an era where the Cybertruck has taken the US by storm, one man has claimed it’s time to put the sci-fi car behind us in favor of this tiny EV pickup, the Telo MT1.
Of course, at $80k, the Cybertruck isn’t the most viable car for most people.
Its prices are as mighty as the car itself, which leaves many people looking for cheaper, yet still as cool, alternatives.
Well, one TikTok car fanatic has now claimed that it’s time to forget the Cybertruck and get on the Telo MT1.
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TikTok car enthusiast backs new pickup to overtake the Cybertruck
The Cybertruck has proven its worth against other pickups time after time.
But one TikTok personality has gone viral for backing another cheaper competitor.
The Telo MT1 is backed by Tesla’s original owners – Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning – and is a tiny pickup that packs a mighty punch.
Off the bat, this truck raises a lot of eyebrows. Its size is the most obvious discrepancy, being mere millimeters longer than a Mini Cooper.
When you add in that it doesn’t look all that special and that it comes with a $42k asking price, there needs to be something special about it to even begin to serve as a Cybertruck alternative.

But the smaller vehicle clearly has some things going for it.
For instance, the tow rating of 6,600lbs and a payload capacity of 2,000lbs.
“It might seem like a high price for a small truck – and it is – but its still half of the price the other electric trucks on the market,” TikTok personality Molesrcool said.
The carmakers claim that they have made one of the most efficiently-packed cars out there. And they’ve made no compromises over interior space, despite its size.
Is the Telo MT1 the cheap answer to America’s EV truck issue?
The pickup industry has always been affordable in America. The Ford F-150 has led the way for decades, with many other high-quality, robust, and long-range vehicles coming close.
But the switch to EV has priced many people out of newer trucks. In fact, most fall into the $50-80k range, like the Tesla Cybertruck.
Competitors like the Rivian R1T, Ford F-150 Lightning, Chevy Silverado, and GMC Sierra also fall in this category. Which leaves the best pickups costing quite the hefty fee.
But the Telo MT1 comes $10k cheaper, and its tightly-packed car does make for an interesting competitor.
As long as you can get past needing a ‘big’ car as your driver.

Still, if you want the best out of your Telo MT1, you still need to dip into your wallet, as the standard range edition only comes with 260 miles. But an additional 90 miles can be purchased for $4k.
For a further $6k, you can add a dual motor that kicks the horsepower up to 500HP from 300HP.
So, for the top spec, you’re already hitting the price of an F-150 Lightning.
But given that people are growing wearisome of the Cybertruck, maybe this pint-sized competitor can drive under the radar and win people over with its affordability.
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