Tesla Cybertruck: What's the Latest News?
A look at some of the crazy features and when to expect the Cybertruck.
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Article QuickTakes:
When Tesla revealed the Cybertruck in 2019, it was the first all-electric, full-size pickup truck intended for production. But three years later, we're still waiting for this truck to come to market, and both the Rivian R1T and Ford F-150 Lightning have hit the streets.
What is happening with the Tesla Cybertruck, and when will it actually arrive? Though we lack any definite answers, we can make some educated guesses.
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What is the Cybertruck?
Here's what Tesla CEO Elon Musk said the trapezoid-shaped Cybertruck would be at launch: It would have a 0-to-60-mph time of 2.9 seconds, up to 500 miles of range, and the ability to tow more than 14,000 pounds (when the average towing capacity for half-ton trucks is around 12,000 pounds).
In addition to the over-the-top specs, there were a couple of crazy features Musk said the Cybertruck would deliver: a bulletproof, stainless-steel exoskeleton and shatterproof "transparent metal" glass. Unfortunately, Musk had designer Franz von Holzhausen
On
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Why so many delays?
Initial delays to the Cybertruck's production were due to a design that wasn't street-legal in the United States. For example, at the unveiling it lacked side mirrors, windshield wipers, and a front bumper. However, we've seen pre-production test vehicles in public with all these features, so what's the holdup? Battery production, supply chain constraints, and a parts bottleneck, or at least those are the latest speculations.
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What's new?
One good thing about the delays is they’ve given Musk and the Tesla crew time to noodle with features and refine the Cybertruck. In an investor meeting, Musk said the design was finalized in June of 2022 and would be about 3% smaller than the prototype to better fit in standard garages and on European streets.
Other new features include rear-wheel steering, 60/40 rear folding seats, and a steering yoke (instead of a steering wheel).
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How much is it really going to cost?
When Tesla announced the Cybertruck in 2019, base pricing for the Single Motor RWD was nearly $40,000 before options, and the top-tier Tri-Motor AWD model was close to $70,000. But Musk said—without giving any specifics—that a lot has changed on the pickup since 2019, so the specs and pricing will be different.
Interestingly, the 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning started with a base price around $41,500, but the 2023 model now starts around $54,000. The as-yet-unreleased Chevrolet Silverado EV is supposed to have a base price of about $41,500, and should be out in the fall of 2023, which could be around the same time the Cybertruck is available.
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When will it be out?
If the
If Musk's projections are correct, the Cybertruck could hit the streets at about the same time as the Silverado EV.
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