Tesla Cybertruck with 1m+ reservations is delayed to 2023 [Update]

Update: ‘Rear-axle steering & prototypes’ topic of the ‘Changes expected on the Cybertruck production model’ sub-section of the ‘Tesla Cybertruck design’ section updated.

Introduced in November 2019, the Tesla Cybertruck has long been one of the most anticipated models among pickup trucks and EVs in the U.S. for over three years. The off-beat electric pickup truck has attracted potential customers in the millions, and after prolonged delays, is finally set to go on sale in 2023.

Tesla Cybertruck design

The Tesla Cybertruck features a polarizing design that has remained one of its most debated aspects since day one. Though Tesla has suggested revising the wedge-shaped pickup’s design for production, we doubt it plans to make significant changes. In a Ride the Lightning podcast uploaded on YouTube on January 15, 2023, Tesla Chief Designer Franz von Holzhausen suggested that the general design and styling of the Cybertruck has been concluded, for the most part.

Setting a new benchmark for quirky pickup design, the Cybertruck is not as unique as most think. USPTO design patent application shows similarities to several classic and early 2000s models. Tesla has cited designs of classic sports cars, a funky off-roader, and even an aerodynamic pickup bed cover look in the Cybertruck’s design patent application, as per a report from electrek.co.

Build Quality

The Cybertruck needs many improvements and fixes to become ready for launch, and these revisions will take some more time. There are many imperfections in the design at this stage. A significant amount of panel gaps, some misaligned panels, damaged parts, and glued-on parts on the prototype indicated that there’s a lot the work ahead for the quality department. The company wouldn’t want another one of its products to have inconsistencies or imperfections in customer delivery units.

DIY scratch removal

In the Ride the Lightning podcast, von Holzhausen was asked about the Cybertruck’s stainless steel body. Since the material is prone to scratches, the host asked Franz if the owners could do something about it. To this, Tesla’s Chief Designer told the host that the Cybertruck’s stainless steel exterior is really tough and is coated with a ‘self-curing’ finish. If there’s a scratch, Franz pointed out that owners should be able to work on it themselves and return that section to its original finish.

Changes expected on the Cybertruck production model

Glass roof & tonneau cover

On February 25, 2023, YouTube channel What’s Inside? posted a clip of the Cybertruck being driven around what looked like a parking area, via Twitter. This particular unit had two features never seen before – a glass roof and tonneau cover.

Pickup trucks are getting fancier in the EV era, adopting all the comfort features that one would associate with passenger cars. The Rivian R1T and Chevrolet Silverado EV come with a glass roof, and it looks like the Cybertruck, too, will be optionally available with this feature.

Rear-axle steering & prototypes

YouTube channel Chile Al100 has shared a video that reveals the design changes on the updated Cybertruck. Tesla has repositioned the headlights from the top to the bottom of the front-end. Moreover, the company has used separate headlights instead of a full-width light strip.

Lars Moravy, VP – Vehicle Engineering, Tesla, shared a few Cybertruck updates during the company’s Q2 2021 earnings conference call. He said that the company has completed developing the architecture of electric pickup. The Cybertruck is currently in the alpha stages, and Tesla has finished the basic engineering of the vehicle’s architecture. “With the Cybertruck, we’re redefining how a vehicle is being made,” he said.

Video Source: YouTube/Cybertruck Owners Club

Moravy also said the company was testing a number of alpha prototypes “to further mature the design.” The Cybertruck is gaining rear-axle steering as part of these revisions, Moravy suggested. Recent prototype sightings just months ahead of launch indicate this feature is indeed coming.

On March 28, 2023, The Kilowatts shared a video showing the Cybertruck’s rear-axle steering in action on Twitter. Tesla shareholder Matthew Donegan-Ryan reposted the clip on Twitter, to which Musk responded (via Twitter) that the Cybertruck’s turning radius could be shorter than that of the Model Y. That’d ensure the Cybertruck offers good maneuverability and is easy to drive in urban areas despite its large dimensions.

Rear-axle steering is now emerging as a common feature among premium and luxury vehicles. We can see the rear wheels turn in the opposite direction as the front wheels while reversing to reduce the turning circle. At high speeds, they should turn in the same direction as the front wheels and provide added stability.

New photos and a video of a different-looking Cybertruck surfaced online in January 2022, revealing a few distinct design details on the exterior. Tesla appeared to have redesigned the nose section and the bumper to comply with pedestrian safety regulations. As a result, the new face looked slightly curvy.

In an interview with Tesla Owners Silicon Valley and The Kilowatts (watch on YouTube) in June 2022, Tesla co-founder and CEO Elon Musk revealed that Tesla has finally “locked” the Cybertruck’s design. Based on the units we have seen on various occasions since January 2022, below are the changes we are expecting in the final version:

Marker lights

The Cybertruck concept features separate marker lights in the lower front fascia, neatly integrated into the outer ends of the bumper. On February 22, 2023, Tesla brought several pre-production units of the Cybertruck to the inauguration of the Tesla Global Engineering Center in Palo Alto, California. Musk shared a short clip of one of these units on Twitter from the company’s new engineering headquarters, showing the model’s marker lights at the corners of the front fascia:

Cybertruck at Tesla Engineering HQ pic.twitter.com/2xo9Hjgfk9

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 23, 2023

Further below, nearly at the bottom of the bumper, the pre-production Cybertruck has two horizontal LED light bars that serve as its fog lamps. Recent footage suggests that the front fog lamps are set higher, at the same height as the concept version’s marker lights, albeit relatively more inwards. Tesla probably made the change to improve the visibility of the road in unfavorable weather conditions.

Conventional mirrors

The updated Tesla truck features conventional mirrors, which, according to Musk, are “easy to remove.” It also features digital mirrors enabled by side cameras integrated into the front fender flares for when the regulations allow replacing conventional side mirrors.

On February 1, 2023, Instagram user ftronz posted a picture of a Cybertruck featuring regular side mirrors but in a triangular shape that, though in line with the exterior, looks quite abnormal. Two days later, a new video of the Cybertruck popped up on the same Instagram account, giving another look at its odd mirrors. Interestingly, this clip shows even the squarish tail lamp’s transition from partially on—when it’s just a slim line—to fully on when the driver presses the brake pedal.

Tesla is probably using slightly narrower front fenders on the production truck, but we’ll wait for a clearer look to draw any conclusions.

No door handles

Another big change in the Tesla truck’s profile as it evolves into a production vehicle is the removal of flush door handles. The company showcased the updated version of the Cybertruck sans door handles at the Tesla Cyber Rodeo event The updated model had appeared in a walkaround video from YouTube channel Cybertruck Owners Club in January 2022 before being displayed in Texas in April 2022.

Tesla has probably integrated a touch-operated door open/close button on the small rectangular section in the B-pillars and C-pillars. Plus, there should be sensors that detect the user approaching the vehicle with its key and automatically unlock the doors.

You can see some of the changes we’ve made already. There are no handles. Who needs handles? The car can tell that you’re there and it just knows that (it) needs to open. So, I think we’re gonna have an incredible Cybertruck product for you next year. It’s gonna blow your mind.

Elon Musk, co-founder and CEO, Tesla (Tesla Cyber Rodeo on April 7, 2022)

Same wheels

Instead of the covered wheels of the original Cybertruck, the new Cybertruck showcased at the Tesla Cyber Rodeo featured conventionally designed multi-spoke alloy wheels. The new wheels looked smaller, too.

It is possible that the Cybertruck will feature removable wheel covers eventually. The charging port opening is likely on the rear left fender flare, not behind it like on the concept.

Minor changes around the bed

The cargo bed of the new Cybertruck has an additional cut-out in it, closer to the cab, and that could be an opening to service the components. While there’s no indication of a mid-gate, maybe this is a configuration built without that feature and there would be others available with it. Unlike the concept version, it probably features a small latch on the tailgate to open it. Lastly, the button layout on the sidewall seems slightly different.

Tesla’s own stainless steel grade

Tesla has developed its own stainless-steel grade for the Cybertruck’s exterior, Moravy revealed during the company’s Q3 2021 earnings conference call on September 30, 2021. The company has begun the first casting-ins of the custom special stainless-steel, and it’ll work with suppliers and vendors to ensure that it gets enough of it, and on time.

We developed our own stainless-steel grade for the exterior of Cybertruck to meet both the durability and corrosion requirements required for an automotive world.

Lars Moravy, VP – Vehicle Engineering, Tesla (Q3 2021 results conference call on September 30, 2021)

On December 1, 2022, CNBC published an interview with von Holzhausen, revealing details about the Cybertruck’s exterior. von Holzhausen said Tesla wanted to offer toughness right from the outside, the very first layer of the vehicle. That is why it will use stainless steel instead of delicate paint. Admittedly, it is tough to form, especially when used in a thick application, so you can’t design a vehicle with curves and fluidic body lines. That’s the reason the Cybertruck has so many straight lines and looks simplistic.

Body wrap

Citing Musk, a report from electrek.co suggests that the production Cybertruck won’t come in multiple paint options like a regular pickup. Because of the exposed stainless steel, customers might need to apply a wrap before painting it, and Tesla may not offer wrap and painting services. This will reduce production costs and complexity while helping the environment.

New wiper

In some test mules, Tesla has used a large windshield wiper, with a slight angle, that rests near the left A-pillar. Musk said on Twitter that this is not the production design. In another post on Twitter, he revealed that getting the wiper done right was becoming quite a challenge. One possible solution is a deployable wiper stowed in the trunk, that would be complex, Musk added.

Tesla brought a Cybertruck prototype (see on Twitter) to the Tesla Megapack project launch in Moss Landing, California, on June 6, 2022. This unit had a smaller wiper on the left side. on March 28, 2023, we saw a different Cybertruck test mule that didn’t have the large windshield wiper, courtesy Twitter user greggertruck.

Interior

The Tesla Cybertruck unveiled in 2019 has a minimalist interior designed on the same lines as the Teslas that are currently on sale. It is a highly digital cabin with nearly every function operated through an exceptionally big touchscreen infotainment system. There’s space for five occupants, which is usually the case in most electric pickup trucks. Tesla is changing the Cybertruck’s interior a little before bringing it to the market based on customer feedback and internal research.

Digital instrument cluster

The prototype brought to the Tesla Megapack project launch in Moss Landing, California, on June 6, 2022, featured a sleek and sharp instrument cluster, which was lacking in the concept version. Moreover, the customer delivery units may have two additional screens on the outer ends of the dashboard for streaming the live feed from the side cameras.

Two steering options

A highlight of the Cybertruck’s interior is the yoke or, as some say, the ‘open-topped’ steering wheel. The Model S became Tesla’s first production model available with this futuristic design element in 2021. While it has drawn flak, Musk has indicated that the company will go ahead and use it in the Cybertruck as well. Even the Model X received the feature in 2021.

In the Ride the Lightning podcast, von Holzhausen stated that a yoke made for a better user experience in the Cybertruck than a traditional steering wheel. It will also adapt to the brand’s ‘Auto Pilot’ driver-assistance system better, the Chief Designer pointed out.

In a Twitter post on September 9, 2021, Musk said the traditional steering wheel is boring and blocks the instrument cluster. He said that full self-driving in panoramic mode looks much better with a yoke than a round steering wheel. On November 30, 2021, when Twitter user ZainS180 asked Musk on Twitter to confirm the yoke for the Cybertruck, he said (via Twitter) the “Cybertruck is intentionally an insane technology bandwagon.” Musk also promoted the yoke as technology from “a post-apocalyptic future.”

Fast-forward to March 1, 2023, Tesla showcased a Cybertruck prototype with normal steering, well, almost a normal one, at the 2023 Investor Day (via Twitter). It’s a squircle-shaped steering with two spokes and a flattened bottom and top. Tesla has realized many of its customers dislike steering yoke and brought back regular steering in the current models. So this move just months ahead of launch doesn’t surprise us at all. The company may offer both yoke and squircle steering in the Cybertruck.

The prototype brought to the Tesla Megapack project launch in Moss Landing, California, on June 6, 2022, featured a sleek and sharp instrument cluster, large central display, electrically adjustable driver’s seat, chunky metal petals, and utilitarian floor console. KSBW8 has carried pictures of the interior on its website. The prototype at the 2023 Investor Day (via Twitter) had electrically adjustable front seats, foldable rear seats, and cabin floor ambient lighting.

Swiveling screen

One of the drawbacks of the tablet-style large touchscreen infotainment systems found in the new Tesla models is that they’re not tilted towards the driver like the dashboard-integrated, conventional central displays in BMWs and Audis. Tesla has finally come up with a solution to fix that. The company has started offering a swivel function on the screens of the Model S (view on Twitter) and reportedly even the Model X. It takes just a touch inside one of the menus to tilt the panel towards the driver. The Cybertruck may also feature a central display with a swiveling function that conveniently lets the driver tilt it toward them.

New audio player

According to a report Not a Tesla App published on December 31, 2022, Tesla has rebuilt some sections of its audio player using HTML, Javascript, and CSS, indicating it may allow streaming audio from Amazon Music, Pandora, and more audio streaming services that have web apps for the same. Tesla is reportedly moving to an HTML-based player, which could pave the way for quicker updates that include new features and bug fixes. The Cybertruck could be the first all-new Tesla to get the revised audio player.

New Full Self-Driving

The Tesla Cybertruck will be the company’s first model available with Full Self Driving Hardware 4, Musk confirmed during Tesla’s Q4 and full year 2022 earnings conference call. He indicated that FSD Hardware 4 will be significantly better than FSD Hardware 3, saying if the latter can be, for example, 200% or 300% safer than a human driver, the former might be 500% or 600% better.

On August 27, 2022, Twitter user WholeMarsBlog posted a picture of a prototype snapped while being unloaded onto a street for testing. It carried several sensors that could be for Autopilot features. Like every other Tesla sold in the U.S., the Cybertruck may use the company’s camera-based Tesla Vision instead of radar.

Not a “real” truck!

American Trucks recently surveyed 458 Americans and found that 56% of truck drivers and 49% of non-truck drivers don’t see the Tesla Cybertruck as a “real” truck. The prime reason behind that feeling could be the unusual shape, offbeat design, and basically the lack of conventional looks and features in its entirety. Most respondents are interested in the F-150 Lightning, and the Tesla Cybertruck ranks seconds in popularity. We’re quite sure that the perception would begin changing when Tesla truck is on the market.

43% of the respondents who drive a pickup truck think the Cybertruck will go on sale in 2025 or 2026 and 27% of them are interested in the Tesla model. As for non-truck drivers, only 11% of them see it coming to the market in 2023 and 38% of them are interested in it. 

Specifications

Size

The Tesla Cybertruck’s concept version is huge, and for many markets, it’s just too big. Tesla is working on making it smaller and thus more practical for real-world driving environments. During the Joe Rogan Experience podcast, Musk said that the company had made the production version around 3% smaller.

On March 10, 2023, Donegan-Ryan, who attended Tesla’s Investor Day 2023 event, said on Twitter that the beta version of the Cybertruck is 5% smaller than the prototype and also that the company had to exclude the front-row center seat because of that. He also said that all the variants of the Cybertruck will have a seating capacity of five people. Tesla may have removed the sixth seat of the Cybertruck owing to safety concerns. For example, the company may found fitting an airbag for the front-center passenger to be tricky.

In a follow-up post, Donegan-Ryan said that the Cybertruck will be available with 18-inch wheels (via Twitter) wrapped in Goodyear 285/65 R18 all-terrain tires or 35 in. x 11.25 in. all-terrain tires (via Twitter). 18-inch wheels will be available with all-season tires as well.

In another post on Twitter on March 10, 2023, Donegan-Ryan claimed the Cybertruck with 35 in. tires is 231 in. long and 84 in. wide and has a 145 in. wheelbase. Its cargo bed is 73 in. long and 49 in. (at wheel house)/57 in. (at opening) wide. On March 13, 2023, Donegan-Ryan said in a Twitter post that the Cybertruck’s hood opens up along with the front light bar and nose section, just like on the F-150 Lightning. This means customers won’t need to lift items all the way up to the tip of the hood to load them in the frunk. Loading heavy objects like a suitcase in the frunk should be easy.

Dimension	Measurement
Length	231 in.
Width (w/o mirrors)	84 in.
Wheelbase	145 in.
Bed Length	73 in.
Bed Width (at wheel house/opening)	49 in./57 in.

Performance

Tesla had announced the Cybertruck originally in single-motor RWD, dual-motor AWD, and tri-motor AWD variants. During Tesla’s 2022 annual shareholder meeting on August 4, 2022, Musk confirmed that the Cybertruck’s specifications will be different from what the company originally announced in 2019. One of the changes will be the introduction of a quad-motor powertrain.

Whole Mars Catalog said in a post on Twitter in December 2021 that a new quad-motor variant will join the range, while the single-motor variant is under consideration for cancellation. Musk said in response to the speculation on Twitter that Tesla will produce a quad-motor Cybertruck first, confirming the new top-end variant.

Musk said that the Tesla Cybertruck quad-motor will feature independent motors that provide “ultra-fast response” and allow controlling the torque that goes to each wheel. It could be quicker than the tri-motor Cybertruck, which Tesla claimed will accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in less than 2.9 seconds. The towing capacity could also be better than the tri-motor variant’s 14,000+ lbs.

As for the single-motor variant, there’s again a rumor that Tesla has canceled its launch. After having discussions with Tesla staff, Donegan-Ryan said in a post on Twitter on March 10, 2023, that “there will be no single-motor (Cybertruck).”

Range & 4680 cell

In 2019, Tesla had said that the Cybertruck will deliver a range of 250+ miles, 300+ miles, and 500+ miles in the single-motor RWD, dual-motor AWD, and tri-motor AWD variants, respectively. Though it has since decided to change the specifications, we are certain that at least one variant will deliver a range of more than 500 miles.

The key to achieving 500+ miles of range will be batteries made of a new cell type. Called 4680 based on its dimensions – 80 mm length and ~46 mm diameter – this cell can deliver 5X energy, 6X power, and 16% more range, compared to the older cell. Andrew Baglino, Senior Vice President, Powertrain and Energy Engineering, Tesla, revealed these improvements at the Tesla Battery Day event in September 2020.

On December 25, 2022, Tesla indicated in a post on Twitter that it is building over 850,000 (4680) cells per week. The company revealed that it has made 868,000 cells in seven days, enough to roll out 1,000+ EVs (Model Ys). It needs to ramp up 4680 cell production to prepare for the Cybertruck launch.

Battery pack production

On October 19, 2022, Teslarati reported that Tesla will build battery packs for the Cybertruck on a new production line on the second floor of its factory at 45500 Fremont Boulevard, Fremont (California). Construction of the new production line is underway. Tesla plans to use automation equipment for making the Cybertruck’s battery packs at this site, and it is testing the same on the new production line.

Tesla V4 Supercharging

The Cybertruck will be compatible with the Tesla V4 Supercharger (also referred to as Tesla Megacharger), the next generation of Tesla’s charging technology. The cable of the Tesla V4 Supercharger will be nice and maneuverable like that of the Tesla V3 Supercharger, Dan Priestley, Tesla Semi Program Manager, said during the Semi delivery event on December 1, 2022. The only difference in performance — and it’ll be a big one — will be a peak charging rate of 1 megawatt, which is four times the rate of the V3 (250 kilowatts).

The new charging cable will have high-voltage conductors immersed in coolant return tubes. Musk revealed during the Semi delivery event that the Cybertruck will be able to take benefit of the Tesla V4 Supercharger. We doubt its batteries will be able to take the full power (1 megawatt) of the Tesla V4 Supercharger, but the charging rate will likely be much higher than 250 kilowatts.

800-volt system voltage

To support high-power charging at Tesla V4 Supercharging stations, the Cybertruck will need a much higher operating voltage than most Teslas. Tesla is usually quick to adopt new technologies, and the latest example is the structural battery pack in the Model Y. For the Cybertruck it is considering an 800V electrical system instead of the usual 400V. Baglino revealed this development during the Q1 2022 earnings conference call on April 20, 2022.

An 800-volt system voltage would make sense on a big vehicle like the Cybertruck, where there’s a requirement for higher charging power (to charge faster), or higher power from the battery to the power electronics, or more torque, Baglino explained. Plus, the higher system voltage allows reducing the weight and installation space of the cabling.

Off-roading with adjustable air suspension

The Cybertruck features an adjustable air suspension that allows lowering the truck when needed. For example, when customers want to load cargo on the bed, they can make it easier by reducing the height. Tesla calls this the ‘Load’ mode. The company demonstrated the Cybertruck’s Load mode by mounting a Cyberquad. Just to give you an idea of the Cybertruck’s cargo bed area, a picture on Driver Tesla Canada’s Twitter account has suggested there’s enough space to accommodate eight big off-road tires stacked vertically.

On March 10, 2023, Donegan-Ryan said on Twitter that the Cybertruck will ship with an air suspension system tested for off-road driving/racing as standard. Tesla is confident that the electric truck would face no trouble if jumped. The air suspension allows increasing ground clearance when needed. This feature would be useful when driving over large bumps, on a steep driveway or ramp, or in deep snow or water. Off-road adventurers particularly would find it very useful.

Cybertruck Owners Club forum user Trucky has posted a walkaround video showing the Cybertruck with the suspension raised to the maximum level, and the increase in the ground clearance looks truly impressive. The same forum user earlier shared a video on Cybertruck Owners Club showing the Cybertruck being driven with the suspension raised at what looked like the highest level, too.

At the inauguration of the Tesla Global Engineering Center, YouTube channel What’s Inside saw a Cybertruck doing some light off-roading and posted a video on Twitter. The clip, which has amassed nearly half a million views, shows the Cybertruck climbing over a curb to go up a grassy incline. Moreover, we can see the Cybertruck, Model Y, Model 3, Model S, and Model X in the same frame, which is rare.

Some people have ridiculed the video, saying the driver was unnecessarily slow and careful with what was a simple climb. However, we think that’s just how things are when operating early prototypes, which are insanely expensive and crucial for further testing and validation.

Capable of crossing channels

On September 29, 2022, in a post on Twitter, Musk said that the electric truck “will be waterproof enough to serve briefly as a boat.” It would be able to cross rivers and lakes through their shallow sections. The Cybertruck “needs to be able to get from Starbase to South Padre Island, which requires crossing the channel,” Musk said in another post on Twitter minutes later.

On October 7, 2022, Musk shared another post on Twitter indicating how Cybertruck could sail short distances. He said that the Cybertruck would need an electric propeller mounted on the tow hitch to sail “faster than a few knots” and that a creative wheel hub design that can generate enough thrust could be helpful. He didn’t confirm whether he’s planning these features for the Cybertruck or just brainstorming out of curiosity.

Responding to Musk’s first post on September 29, 2022, the Washington State Department of Natural Resources said on Twitter the same day that it’s not recommendable to use anything that “serves briefly as a boat” as a boat.

Tesla Cybertruck accessories

Tesla has put up a team to develop Cybertruck accessories, Donegan-Ryan said in a post on Twitter on March 10, 2023. It has collaborated with aftermarket companies to create special accessories like off-road lights and winches that benefit from the Cybertruck’s 48-volt auxiliary battery for electronics. The company is designing accessories for multiple purposes, including camping, off-roading, Baja racing, etc., Donegan-Ryan said in a follow-up post on Twitter the same day.

Production & Release date

On January 25, 2023, Musk said during Tesla’s Q4 and full year 2022 earnings conference call that the Cybertruck’s early production (low-volume production) will begin in Summer 2023, and mass production (high-volume production) will start in 2024. Customer deliveries may begin in Q3 2023.

Beta production of the Cybertruck is underway. Tesla is likely using the currently produced Cybertrucks for its final engineering and sorting out issues related to its production process. On February 1, 2023, Musk said on Twitter that he was just reviewing the beta Cybertruck and found it “incredible.”

Activity at the production site

Tesla plans to manufacture the Cybertruck at the Giga Texas plant in Austin (Texas), USA. It seems like the Tesla Gigafactory in Texas is seeing activity rising of late, as the company gears up for the Cybertruck’s series production commencement.

Celebrating Valentine’s Day with its love for robots and futuristic technologies, Tesla shared a quirky video on Twitter and inadvertently revealed the Cybertruck’s frame in the process. The pictures below are snapshots of the video and show a robot, which Tesla has named Joey 2000 and has a payload capacity of 40,000 lbs., lifting a Cybertruck frame. New recruitments are underway to gear up for series production. The company has published 17 related Giga Texas plant job openings in the careers section on tesla.com.

Die casting machines arrive at Gigafactory Texas

On January 11, 2023, Twitter user Joe Tegtmeyer shared pictures of large shipments from Italian company Idra arriving on semi-trucks. What these shipments were of is quite obvious, from both their dimensions and the previous Cybertruck updates. On June 1, 2022, Musk had confirmed on Twitter that Tesla will use Idra’s Giga Press 9000t, a 9,000-ton giga press, to build the cast bodies of the Cybertruck. Like in the Model Y, the company may use single-piece front and rear castings in the Cybertruck.

On March 20, 2023, Cybertruck Owners Club forum user greggertruck revealed with a shipping document that another Giga Press from Idra is on its way to Gigafactory Texas. Giga castings can help automakers improve the NVH levels, reduce weight, increase driving range, and improve the safety of vehicles. In addition to making the vehicle better, they can also make manufacturing simpler and space-efficient.

During Tesla’s Q1 2022 earnings conference call, Musk said that vehicle bodies with single-piece castings are lighter and cheaper and provide superior NVH levels. The company plans to introduce another improvement and simplify manufacturing with the Cybertruck and future products, he added. The brand boss expects the Cybertruck to be Tesla’s “best product ever.”

Kuka robots at Gigafactory Texas

According to Twitter user greggertruck’s post on December 23, 2022, which reveals a bill of lading, 66 units of the Kuka production line robots seem to have reached Houston on December 18, 2022. Made in Germany, these brightly-colored robots have been used by Tesla (among other automakers like BMW and Mercedes-Benz), even in the assembly process of the Model Y. This is yet another indication that Giga Texas is heading towards its early production stages of the Cybertruck.

Price

It was unveiled in 2019 and the reservation was USD 99. So, you know, the thing is a lot has changed since then. So, the specs and the pricing will be different. I, you know, hate to sort of give a little bit of bad news but I think there’s no way to sort of have anticipated quite the inflation that we’ve seen and the various issues.

Elon Musk, co-founder and CEO, Tesla (2022 annual shareholder meeting on August 4, 2022)

Tesla removed the Cybertruck prices and the launch timelines from its website before the end of 2021. Musk revealed during the company’s 2022 annual shareholder meeting on August 4, 2022, that it won’t be able to launch the Cybertruck at the original prices (listed in the table below the quote) as inflation and various issues have increased costs to an unanticipated level.

Variant	Original Price
Single-motor RWD	USD 39,900
Dual-motor AWD	USD 49,900
Tri-motor AWD	USD 69,900

Tesla Cybertruck reservations

The Tesla Cybertruck is available to reserve with a small deposit of USD 100, irrespective of the desired configuration. On November 22, 2022, Electrek claimed in an exclusive report that Cybertruck reservations have reached 1.5 million units. Note that Tesla has not provided guidance on the actual numbers.

It’s understandable that not all pre-orders will convert into confirmed orders and result in sales. However, even factoring in potential cancelations, the final order bank could be overwhelming for Tesla and result in long delivery waiting periods for customers. Most buyers may specify their Cybertruck with the dual-motor powertrain, and production managers may prioritize this variant.

Cancelations

Tesla seems to have stopped Cybertruck pre-orders outside North America. A quick check on market-specific Tesla websites confirms that it has limited new Cybertruck orders to the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Previously, the Cybertruck was available to pre-order in Europe.

In Australia, Tesla was allowing prospective buyers to make a reservation with a deposit of AUD 150 but it stopped that in May 2022. The local website now lists the Cybertruck, allowing interested people to sign up for updates. According to Drive‘s report published on July 21, 2022, reservation holders can apply for a refund. No surprises here, as Tesla clearly stated on the website that the AUD 150 deposit was fully refundable. The report indicates that Tesla is not canceling reservations, only refunding the deposit to customers who request a cancelation, which gives customers the hope that the Australian launch is still on the cards.

In an interview at the Future of the Car conference (watch on YouTube) on May 10, 2022, Musk said that Tesla “could possibly fulfill for three years after the start of production” given the current order book. While Musk indicated that the Cybertruck is sold-out from 2023 through 2025, he didn’t disclose the volume of reservations received.

Reports say that Tesla has received so many reservations that it would take until 2025 to complete deliveries. Customers making a reservation may need to wait until 2026 to drive home their trucks. Perhaps the company has decided to restrict fresh reservations to the priority markets of the Cybertruck.

One of the most anticipated EVs in the U.S.

As per its study of search volume data by Google, UK’s Lease Fetcher concluded that the Tesla Cybertruck was one of the most anticipated electric vehicles in the United States in 2022. The upcoming EV garnered a total of 2,856,000 searches on Google during the whole year, equating to 238,000 searches conducted stateside each month. When it comes to global search results on Google, the Cybertruck placed second on the list of most anticipated EVs – accruing 6,612,000 hits in 2022 – that’s a monthly search tally of 551,000. For those curious, the most anticipated EV of 2022, as per the same study, was the Tesla Roadster.

TopElectricSUV says

The Cybertruck should be one of the most durable and capable pickup trucks on the market. Despite its polarizing design, it has drawn potential customers in the hundreds of thousands, which clearly shows people’s willingness to accept a radically new concept in the rather traditional vehicle category.

Tesla Cybertruck FAQs

Featured Image Source: Tesla