Photo: MuddyRuttzz via YouTube
If you thought the Cybertruck's feature list had been closed, think again. Elon Musk just revealed that he's considering adding an optional scratch-proof coating to prevent people from keying the Cybertruck. The layer will use a tungsten-carbide composition, which resists anything below diamond hardness.
The Tesla Cybertruck development has been a moving target for the past two years, with features added or removed at short notice. This must've been frustrating for Tesla engineers, as they had to go back to the drawing board to accommodate everything Elon Musk wanted based on his whims or the suggestions he got from Twitter. It also took a toll on the Cybertruck's timeline and allowed other carmakers to catch up in the electric pickup truck segment.
As the Cybertruck development got to a close this year, everyone thought this game was over, and Tesla would finally concentrate on launching the pickup with the expected features discussed in the past years. The Cybertruck deliveries are expected to start in October at the latest, although Musk promised earlier that a delivery event will be organized "in the third quarter." Still, in a recent reply on X, Musk hinted at adding another feature to the Cybertruck, albeit as an option.
Referring to the stainless steel body toughness, one Tesla fan joked on X that "people who try to key a Cybertruck will be ruining their keys." Elon Musk replied, saying he ponders offering an optional tungsten-carbide coating, which should be scratch-proof to anything below diamond hardness. If you ask me, it's a little extreme, especially as the Cybertruck already has one of the toughest skins of any vehicle in civilian use. Still, this doesn't mean people won't be willing to pay for this extra.
Although the stainless steel body is not immune to scratches, it is less likely to be affected, as there'll be no paint to ruin and no steel to rust underneath. Sandblast it, and the marks are gone, with no consequences whatsoever. The tungsten-carbide coating is undoubtedly tough but only resists scratches. Bend the body panel, and the treatment will crack, rendering it useless. It's kind of like Gorilla Glass used for smartphones' screens: it's hard to scratch but will shatter easily if dropped.
I don't know what makes Tesla and Elon Musk so obsessed with making the Cybertruck body impenetrable. A car's structure must be deformable to absorb the shock in a crash and protect the occupants. Survivability might be affected in severe crashes if the body doesn't crumple. Right now, it doesn't look like the Cybertruck's exoskeleton offers a proper crumple zone. I'd be curious to see the first crash test results, especially as Tesla wants the Cybertruck to become the safest pickup truck in the world.
Tesla initially promised to use armored glass for the Cybertruck. It famously shattered during the Cybertruck reveal in 2019 when Franz von Holzhausen threw the ball. This would be another feature that would make the escape from the truck nearly impossible in case of emergency. If armored glass will be used, Tesla should seriously consider featuring the Cybertruck with an escape hatch.
As the Cybertruck development got to a close this year, everyone thought this game was over, and Tesla would finally concentrate on launching the pickup with the expected features discussed in the past years. The Cybertruck deliveries are expected to start in October at the latest, although Musk promised earlier that a delivery event will be organized "in the third quarter." Still, in a recent reply on X, Musk hinted at adding another feature to the Cybertruck, albeit as an option.
Referring to the stainless steel body toughness, one Tesla fan joked on X that "people who try to key a Cybertruck will be ruining their keys." Elon Musk replied, saying he ponders offering an optional tungsten-carbide coating, which should be scratch-proof to anything below diamond hardness. If you ask me, it's a little extreme, especially as the Cybertruck already has one of the toughest skins of any vehicle in civilian use. Still, this doesn't mean people won't be willing to pay for this extra.
Although the stainless steel body is not immune to scratches, it is less likely to be affected, as there'll be no paint to ruin and no steel to rust underneath. Sandblast it, and the marks are gone, with no consequences whatsoever. The tungsten-carbide coating is undoubtedly tough but only resists scratches. Bend the body panel, and the treatment will crack, rendering it useless. It's kind of like Gorilla Glass used for smartphones' screens: it's hard to scratch but will shatter easily if dropped.
I don't know what makes Tesla and Elon Musk so obsessed with making the Cybertruck body impenetrable. A car's structure must be deformable to absorb the shock in a crash and protect the occupants. Survivability might be affected in severe crashes if the body doesn't crumple. Right now, it doesn't look like the Cybertruck's exoskeleton offers a proper crumple zone. I'd be curious to see the first crash test results, especially as Tesla wants the Cybertruck to become the safest pickup truck in the world.
Tesla initially promised to use armored glass for the Cybertruck. It famously shattered during the Cybertruck reveal in 2019 when Franz von Holzhausen threw the ball. This would be another feature that would make the escape from the truck nearly impossible in case of emergency. If armored glass will be used, Tesla should seriously consider featuring the Cybertruck with an escape hatch.
We might be able to offer an optional tungsten carbide coating, which is basically scratch-proof to everything below diamond hardness
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) September 14, 2023
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