Tesla’s chief executive Elon Musk has recently confirmed that the production of the Cybertruck has been delayed, yet again. The launch of Tesla’s Cybertruck and two other EV models has been postponed until at least 2023. The main reason for another delay lies in supply-chain issues that are not expected to be resolved any time soon.
The Futuristic and Rugged Cybertruck
Tesla tapped into the market of electric vehicles with the premium sedan Model S and a more affordable Model 3. The futuristic Cybertruck was announced as the next step in 2019 but it never came to be.
So, what is the main challenge in the production of the long-awaited Cybertruck? According to Musk, the vehicle is envisioned as a relatively affordable one even though it boasts pricy cutting-edge technology (the all-electric pickup truck is expected to come with a price tag of $40000). The company’s hope was to produce 250,000 Cybertrucks per year, but achieving this will require more time if the truck is to remain affordable. The prototype we had the chance to see features an exoskeleton made of ultra-hard 30x cold-rolled stainless steel and Tesla armor glass. The model is both futuristic and unapologetically rugged: it looks like something Mad Max would drive.
The Challenges
While Tesla plans to do a lot of engineering and tooling work on Cybertruck, Semi, and Roadster, no new vehicle models are going into production this year as the company reportedly already has too much on its plate. Tesla wants to avoid introducing new models that would require a lot of attention and resources because that would decrease their total vehicle output this year.
It has also been reported that the company is currently not working on the announced $25,000 model, which is a setback in Tesla’s efforts to make its vehicles more accessible to the general public. Instead, the company is going to be focusing on its humanoid robot Optimus.
Don’t Hold Your Breath
Even though the Cybertruck prototype seems pretty awesome (who wouldn’t want a nearly impenetrable exoskeleton?), we say don’t get too excited. The planned launch date has been removed from the Cybertruck page, and it remains to be seen what effects will yet another postponement mean for the company. The good news is (for us, not for Tesla), the other companies are entering the all-electric pickups race and are picking up speed: Rivian Automotive has already started deliveries of its electric pickup, while Ford has announced its electric truck will become available this spring. General Motors will also begin the production of all-electric trucks next year.
Learn more at Tesla.com.
