Benzinga - by Chris Katje, Benzinga Staff Writer.
The President and CEO of the UFC is giving away a Cybertruck electric pickup truck. The giveaway of one of the initial Cybertrucks comes after Tesla Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) began deliveries on Nov. 30, 2023.
What Happened: The highly anticipated Cybertruck from Tesla has finally been launched, four years after the company unveiled the vehicle and saw several delays.
In 2023, the production of the vehicle will start on a small scale, with plans to increase in 2024, followed by a significant ramp-up scheduled for 2025 and beyond. The vehicle has around two million reservations according to third-party estimates and Tesla itself has confirmed over one million reservations.
Tesla could be taking advantage of the strong reservations with the newly announced "Foundation Edition" Cybertrucks being sold for $120,000. Among the first Cybertruck deliveries, the Foundation Edition will have a limited supply of 1,000 vehicles.
Those waiting for a Cybertruck could take part in a new giveaway from UFC President and CEO Dana White.
"I'm giving away a free Tesla Cybertruck. This has to be the biggest giveaway I've ever done," White said in a video.
White thanked Tesla CEO Elon Musk in the video and said he appreciated "you doing this for me," suggesting that Musk was involved with the giveaway. Musk replied, "this is cool" to White's tweet.
White said the giveaway comes as the price of the truck is in the six figures and there is a three-year waiting list.
The UFC CEO shared a link for the giveaway and also said that people who watch the Nitrocross Saturday and Sunday live on Rumble (NASDAQ:RUM) can get extra entries via a secret code.
Rumble could see a boost in viewership for the Nitrocross over the weekend given the giveaway of the Cybertruck. The streaming company has been attempting to ramp up its sports coverage in recent months.
The Power Slap league, which White owns, announced a partnership previously with Rumble.
Related Link: Cybertruck Named ‘Disruptor Of The Year’ Ahead Of Delivery Event: ‘Elon Musk’s Stainless Steel Cyberpunk Fantasy’
Why It's Important: Well-known in the world of mixed martial arts, White previously tied to arrange a well-publicized cage fight between Musk and Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg.
"I was talking to both Elon and Mark last night, both guys are absolutely dead serious about this," White previously said.
White said the fight would be the biggest pay-per-view event ever.
Benzinga previously reported that Musk has a connection to Endeavor Group Holdings (NYSE:EDR), the company that is the majority owner of the UFC. Musk was previously on the board of directors of Endeavor before stepping down.
The UFC has become a part of TKO Group Holdings (NYSE:TKO), the sports division of Endeavor that is publicly traded and now includes World Wrestling Entertainment following a recent merger.
Tesla is known for its minimal traditional advertising, instead relying on word of mouth advertising and loyal fans. White's post and giveaway could be an easy way to increase awareness for the Cybertruck and build up even more demand.
Podcast host Joe Rogan, who is also involved with UFC, has been praising the Cybertruck on his podcast for free. In a recent episode with Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Rogan shared details of Tesla vehicles including the Cybertruck with the actor and former pro-wrestler, who asked if Tesla had an SUV or truck.
Tesla could use the early Cybertruck releases as marketing tools and also sell them at higher rates as proven with the Foundation models. The company conducted an auction of a low VIN Cybertruck, which sold for $400,000.
Read Next: Elon Musk Wanted To Make A Vehicle For The Future, One That Blade Runner Would Drive
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