- The long awaited Tesla Cybertruck has started production, after the first production vehicle rolled off the line at the companies Texas factory
- Production was originally slated to start in 2021, but will now ramp up to full production by 2024
- This brings Tesla one step closer to rivalling EV truck rivals such as the Ford F150 Lightning and the Rivian R1T
The Tesla Cybertruck gets one step closer to full-scale production
Tesla’s electric pickup truck has been much hyped since its original unveiling in 2019, but a multitude of delays have kept people waiting for the sledgehammer-proof electric truck. Previously, the slated 2021 production date was delayed until 2022.
Supply chain issues then muddied this date to ‘late 2022’, but Tesla have now announced that the first Cybertruck has rolled out of ‘Gigafactory Texas’, with a photo shared on Twitter. This is the first production build of the EV, after the prototype shown previously.
Tesla previously said that it expects full-scale production of the Cybertruck to begin in 2024, so this recent announcement is welcome news for those with reservations for the new EV, and suggests that the company is back on track.
The six-seater Cybertruck is expected to have a towing capacity of over 14,000lbs, or around 6.3 tonnes. Thanks to its previous experience of drivetrains with its other models, the company is claiming 0-60mph times as low as 2.9 seconds, along with up to 500 miles of range.
Pricing hasn’t been finalised, but the 2019 announcement claimed a single motor, rear-wheel -drive variant would be available for $39,900 (£30,540). Meanwhile, the top tri-motor, all-wheel- drive model would cost $69,900 (£53,500). It remains to be seen whether these prices will hold true four years down the road.
What about the competition?
Whilst those in the US have been able to place reservations for the Cybertruck, that option has not been open to customers elsewhere. It remains to be seen whether the Cybertruck will make its way over to Europe, but rival electric trucks are expected to launch in the continent. Rivian plans to bring its R1T to Europe, while Ford has piloted a launch of its new F150 Lightning in Norway. The latter has also announced an off-road oriented version of the popular electric Mustang Mach-E.
Internal combustion engine (ICE) pickups of yesteryear had large, fuel-thirsty engines which made these types of vehicles unviable in Europe. However, the ongoing switch of models to greener electric power could open these trucks up in a larger way to the European market.
