Four years after starting the car world with designs for the Cybertruck, Elon Musk is set Thursday to mark the arrival of Tesla’s iconoclastic take on the American pickup. The company’s new electric truck is expected to have a maximum range of 500 miles between charges and can tow 14,000 pounds. Its stainless steel body is bulletproof and can swing from 0 to 60 in less than 3 seconds. Its design, to some, has evoked a futuristic, sometimes dystopian future akin to “Blade Runner” or “Mad Max.”
But even if the Cybertruck becomes the sales success that Musk hopes and has teased significant numbers, the vehicle’s ultimate success could still be limited by the fact that an inefficient, polluting fossil fuel powers its electric motor. Most U.S. power grids run on that energy, and other countries have dirtier infrastructures.
It’s also possible that the Cybertruck will become a niche product, says Cornell University expert Art Wheaton, who likens it to the Chevrolet Corvette, which doesn’t achieve huge sales but draws buyers to other GM vehicles. Tesla has said it expects to produce about 15,000 full-size EV pickups this year, and it is the only automaker producing one right now.
The Cybertruck’s unique appearance, with large flat plates of unbent steel, has posed manufacturing challenges, and the company still needs to work on meeting production goals for its Model 3 sedans. The Semi, which is a much bigger project than the Cybertruck and requires more in-house battery production, has also faced multiple delays.
Investors are eager to learn more about the pickup’s performance and pricing. CFRA equity analyst Garrett Nelson predicts that the Cybertruck will sell for around $50,000, and he is concerned about the possibility of Tesla having to ramp up production to meet its goal of producing 50,000 units this year.
During Tesla’s Austin headquarters event, Musk and design leader Franz von Holzhausen are expected to discuss more model details. But the most important question may be how quickly it can get into customers’ hands. It needs to be clarified if Tesla will begin shipping trucks to some of the more than 25,000 people who have placed reservations.
Olivia Jaldridge is a Community Impact Newspaper reporter covering public health, business, development, and Travis County government for the Austin edition. She hosts and produces the paper’s Austin Breakdown, Houston Breakdown, and DFW Breakdown podcasts. She has been working at the newspaper for nearly three years and previously worked as a reporter for South Carolina Public Radio. She is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. Follow her on Twitter @ojaldridge. Copyright 2023 Community Impact Newspapers. All rights reserved. Reproduction without permission is prohibited.