The internet is buzzing. What’s left of Twitter is talking of little else. And the Tesla faithful are feeling vindicated for their patience. The Cybertruck is finally coming.
Well, 10 of them.
Deliveries of Tesla’s long-awaited futuristic pickup are scheduled to begin next week. But not many deliveries, according to a new report.
Just 10 at First
Tesla Global Director of Product Design Javier Verdura told the audience at a conference in Monterey, Mexico, that the company is “going to deliver the first 10” Cybertrucks at an event on Nov. 30.
The number nearly matches what observers have seen parked outside the Austin, Texas, factory that builds the trucks. Fans have spotted more in testing. But it’s not unusual for automakers to build dozens of pre-production models to dial in a vehicle’s specifics before volume production starts.
And volume production of the Cybertruck will take time. CEO Elon Musk told investors on a conference call last quarter the truck is “just incredibly difficult to bring to market to reach volume, to be prosperous.”
It’s Hard To Build Fast
The Cybertruck introduces several new technologies, like a stainless steel exoskeleton, that the automotive industry has never brought to large-scale production before. That could mean production takes a long time to scale up to meet the more than 2 million orders Tesla claims.
But the pace may not matter. Tesla has the most loyal following of any automaker, according to several studies. Many have been willing to wait four years (so far) from the time Tesla announced the truck until the first deliveries. Anyone willing to wait four years for a truck doesn’t need a truck in a hurry. They just want a Cybertruck.
This Probably Won’t Dent Enthusiasm
The model simply isn’t competing with other electric pickups.
Today, shoppers can already buy the Chevrolet Silverado EV, Ford F-150 Lightning, GMC Hummer EV pickup, and Rivian R1T. General Motors also plans a GMC Sierra EV for the 2024 model year, and Ram will follow soon after with its 1500 REV pickup. But those waiting for a Cybertruck seem unlikely to be excited by anything else.
