Tesla’s long-anticipated Cybertruck gained’t be seeing full quantity manufacturing till 2024, Elon Musk mentioned through the firm’s fourth quarter earnings name at the moment.
Through the name, Musk was requested whether or not the forthcoming car would meet a mid-2023 manufacturing goal that was set in Q2 final yr. Musk cagily confirmed that Cybertruck manufacturing would begin “someday this summer season,” however concluded that mass manufacturing of the polarizing pickup gained’t begin till subsequent yr. “I all the time attempt to downplay the beginning of manufacturing,” Musk mentioned. “It will increase exponentially, however it is vitally gradual at first.”
Cybertruck was initially introduced in 2019 to widespread curiosity, however has seen its manufacturing delayed a number of occasions. Pre-production was initially supposed to begin in late 2021, however was delayed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was then slated for someday in 2023, a projection made a yr in the past. Moreover, final yr Musk informed buyers Cybertruck’s specs and worth “shall be completely different,” (learn: shall be dearer).
As a comfort prize, Tesla revealed on Wednesday that it has began putting in the manufacturing tools wanted for the Cybertruck’s meeting, together with the castings that may produce the electrical pickup’s physique. The Cybertruck is anticipated to be largely manufactured on the firm’s Gigafactory in Austin, Texas.
Business consultants warned that the timeline wanted to be sped up to ensure that the Cybertruck to have its desired affect. “Cybertruck shall be hitting an more and more crowded sector of the EV market amid the F-150 Lightning, GMC Hummer EV, Rivian R1T, and sure the Chevy Silverado EV and RAM 1500 EV following intently behind,” mentioned Edmunds government director of insights Jessica Cawell in an electronic mail to The Verge. “The draw back for Tesla is that the Cybertruck virtually looks like outdated information.”
There’s nonetheless loads of consideration on the Cybertruck after its over-the-top unveiling that launched its aggressive, publish apocalyptic design. Possibly if Tesla throws extra steel balls round it may possibly get manufacturing rolling.