Tesla Cybertruck mass manufacturing ramp slips to 2024

Tesla’s long-anticipated Cybertruck gained’t be seeing full quantity manufacturing till 2024, Elon Musk mentioned in the course of the firm’s fourth quarter earnings name right now.

Through the name, Musk was requested whether or not the forthcoming automobile would meet a mid-2023 manufacturing goal that was set in Q2 final 12 months. Musk cagily confirmed that Cybertruck manufacturing would begin “someday this summer time,” however concluded that mass manufacturing of the polarizing pickup gained’t begin till subsequent 12 months. “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 on account of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was then slated for someday in 2023, a projection made a 12 months in the past. Moreover, final 12 months Musk instructed buyers Cybertruck’s specs and worth “shall be totally different,” (learn: shall be costlier).

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 can produce the electrical pickup’s physique. The Cybertruck is anticipated to be largely manufactured on the firm’s Gigafactory in Austin, Texas.

Trade specialists 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 carefully behind,” mentioned Edmunds govt director of insights Jessica Cawell in an e-mail to The Verge. “The draw back for Tesla is that the Cybertruck virtually looks like outdated information.”

There’s nonetheless quite a lot 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 might get manufacturing rolling.