Tesla Cybertruck

[sdifox]

Just got around to watching that repair video. Have to give kudos to Tesla that not only is it repairable, but that they were willing to even repair it in first place, knowing that this was 100% user abuse. Pretty sure most manufacturers won't even touch damaged frames.

That glue is pretty impressive too, the fact that it provides good adhesion on such a smooth surface.

The cost of the repair seems rather reasonable too, yeah, it's a lot of money but a similar repair on any other car would probably cost about that much too, and that's if they'd even be willing to do it.

Most dealerships will fix your car if you are willing to pay for it. Most vehicles are unibody and they get fixed as long as insurance seems it cheaper than totalling the vehicle.

 

[Kaido]

 

[Kaido]

Great article on the issues of the rapid development of the Cybertruck:

How the Cybertruck Came to Embody Tesla’s Problems

there was pressure inside Tesla to get the truck to market quickly

...

Work on the vehicle was delayed a couple of years, leaving engineering and manufacturing teams with only a few months to do final testing before the trucks went to customers, former employees said.
Musk tried to temper expectations around how quickly Tesla could increase production, given its unique design. “There is always some chance that Cybertruck will flop, because it is so unlike anything else,” he wrote on social media in July 2021. Still, he promoted some of its most unusual features, including his dream of making the car amphibious.

Former employees said they took Musk’s social posts as orders, but the engineering proved difficult. By 2022, it was clear internally that Cybertruck wouldn’t be able to meet all Musk’s criteria, so engineers scrapped an early design and started over—developing a smaller, landlocked version of the truck, the people said.

After about a year and a half of testing, Tesla delivered the first Cybertrucks to a dozen or so customers in late November 2023.

...

In March, Tesla issued a recall affecting most of the Cybertrucks it had produced—more than 46,000. The problem involved adhesive that could become brittle in extreme weather, causing exterior trim panels called cant rails to dislodge.

Inspecting his truck, Tomasko said he found loose connections on almost every panel that used the adhesive, including the large pieces of stainless steel over the rear wheels, the front fender and the front doors.

 

[Kaido]

Update on the CT sale:

https://insideevs.com/news/761963/tesla-cybertruck-zero-percent-demand/

At 5.54% (the rate Tesla quotes on its site), the subsidized interest offsets the total cost of the loan between $11,475 and $15,891, depending on the trim level financed.

* 0% APR financing
* Must take delivery by the end of the month
* Must purchase $8k Full Self-Driving package

Tesla currently has an estimated 3,700 unsold units—about $300 million—sitting in parking lots

 

[MrSquished]

There are zero redeeming qualities about that truck which stands for everything wrong about anything.

 

[Kaido]

There are zero redeeming qualities about that truck which stands for everything wrong about anything.

The rollout has not exactly met expectations:

According to registration data from S&P Global Mobility on the 8th (local time), Tesla recorded sales of about 7,100 Cybertrucks in the U.S. during the first quarter of 2025. Last year’s annual sales also fell below 40,000, amounting to only 16% of Musk's annual goal of 250,000 units.

The WSJ commented, "The Cybertruck has become a symbol of controversy intertwined with Musk's political moves, with some owners experiencing unpleasant incidents like graffiti on their vehicles or receiving obscene gestures from other drivers. Due to frequent recalls and manufacturing defects, owners have had to repeatedly seek repairs, significantly damaging the Cybertruck's reputation even among Tesla fans."

I still think it's cool, and while I think Tesla itself will be just fine, I can't see the Cybertruck ever really taking off after the political stuff:

1. The CT factory cost $1.1 billion. They are stuck with the design.
2. As his name is so strongly tied to the Tesla brand, his political activity negatively tarnished the CT brand
3. The CEO alienated his core base (well-off, eco-friendly democrats) & is currently alienating his new demographic (republicans)
4. The rollout has not met the advertising:

a. Shrunk size that led to an even weirder design
b. Endless recalls
c. FSD/AP feature withdrawal (ex. no Autosteer unless you spend $8,000 on Autopilot)
d. Extended battery removed
e. Hugely inflated price
f. No 500-mile battery
g. No electric ATV & no angled ramp
h. No boat mode

It's been disappointing to put in a reservation, wait 6 years, have the launch version start at triple the price with fewer features, and then become a hated political symbol. Oh well!

My buddy's launch version has had zero problems & he fortunately hasn't gotten any hate for it. I ended up getting a refund on my CT reservation. We wanted a city version & a long-range business-commuter version. I loved the concept: no paint, has a bed, 500-mile battery, weird design. Perfect fit for my wishlist! But we're in no rush, so we're aiming for a Slate as a city car, as we still want an EV & 240 miles is plenty for that. Still looking for a long-range EV for work tho!

I'll miss seeing the fun potential it had for decoration!

 

[lxskllr]

Heh... A cyberwoodie. I almost like that. A shame the panels will blow off driving down the road :^D

 

[Kaido]

Heh... A cyberwoodie. I almost like that. A shame the panels will blow off driving down the road :^D

They finally kinda-sorta have a $60k version:




Lease deal: (AWD is only $20 more per month lol)

https://www.autoblog.com/carbuying/tesla-cybertruck-lease-offer-june

 

[Kaido]

Great video:

 

[Kaido]

Farmer experiments:

 

[lxskllr]

I don't believe him. He's either delusional, or being paid off.

 

[Kaido]

I don't believe him. He's either delusional, or being paid off.

Crossing my fingers the used market hits the $40k OG price! hahaha

 

[Brainonska511]

Crossing my fingers the used market hits the $40k OG price! hahaha

It could be free and I still wouldn't drive it.

 

[Kaido]

22" wheels:

 

[Kaido]

Sandy Munro dismantles the EV truck hype: (24 minutes)