Photo: @Thavisin via X
The prime minister of Thailand, Srettha Thavisin, was invited by Tesla VP Lars Moravi to climb on top of the Cybertruck's tonneau cover. The picture has circled the world, proving how strong the Cybertrucks' vault cover was. I'm sure Rivian, who delivered its vehicles with a fragile tonneau cover, is following this closely.
Many early Rivian owners found out that the R1T's powered tonneau cover was a lot more fragile than it should be on an adventure pickup truck. The cover used a complicated system to stow away the multiple blades in the space behind the cabin. As most complex things do, it was prone to jamming and breaking, so Rivian had to remove it from its configurator. The EV startup promised a fix but needed more than a year before finally offering a new powered tonneau cover.
This was the biggest mistake Rivian made with the R1T, which otherwise proved a surprisingly well-thought-out vehicle. The electric pickup truck is known for being able to withstand the harshness of an off-road trail and even for doing some actual truck work. This is why some people think the Cybertruck might be a city dweller by comparison. And if the Rivian's powered tonneau cover were a joke, the one on the Cybertruck would be even more so.
Well, we can now safely rule out this possibility, as recent imagery shows that the Cybertruck is a lot sturdier than most people thought. The vault cover, in particular, is built to withstand a significant load without bending or, God forbid, breaking. This became obvious after Tesla VP for Vehicle Engineering Lars Moravi invited Thailand's Prime Minister, Srettha Thavisin, for a photo shoot on top of the Cybertruck. The cover proved as solid as the Cybertruck's stainless steel exoskeleton, showing no sign of stress.
The shocking moment happened during Thavisin's visit to Tesla Fremont to discuss the country's collaboration with Tesla. Thailand is the place where most pickup trucks for Asia-Pacific markets are built, so it's no coincidence that the country's prime minister was invited to test the Cybertruck. If Tesla ever considers building the Cybertruck in other parts of the world, Thailand is undoubtedly THE place. I'm sure Australians are looking forward to this happening as soon as possible.
People at Rivian are also watching closely the Cybertruck. Even if it proved no match for the R1T on the Hollister Hills stair steps, it's arguably the most disruptive competitor in the electric pickup truck segment. And considering how difficult it was for Rivian to come up with a better tonneau cover for the R1T, seeing the Cybertruck vault cover withstanding the weight of two people must have been an inspiration if not a challenge. I'd love to hear RJ Scaringe saying, "Challenge accepted," in a Barney Stinson voice.
This was the biggest mistake Rivian made with the R1T, which otherwise proved a surprisingly well-thought-out vehicle. The electric pickup truck is known for being able to withstand the harshness of an off-road trail and even for doing some actual truck work. This is why some people think the Cybertruck might be a city dweller by comparison. And if the Rivian's powered tonneau cover were a joke, the one on the Cybertruck would be even more so.
Well, we can now safely rule out this possibility, as recent imagery shows that the Cybertruck is a lot sturdier than most people thought. The vault cover, in particular, is built to withstand a significant load without bending or, God forbid, breaking. This became obvious after Tesla VP for Vehicle Engineering Lars Moravi invited Thailand's Prime Minister, Srettha Thavisin, for a photo shoot on top of the Cybertruck. The cover proved as solid as the Cybertruck's stainless steel exoskeleton, showing no sign of stress.
The shocking moment happened during Thavisin's visit to Tesla Fremont to discuss the country's collaboration with Tesla. Thailand is the place where most pickup trucks for Asia-Pacific markets are built, so it's no coincidence that the country's prime minister was invited to test the Cybertruck. If Tesla ever considers building the Cybertruck in other parts of the world, Thailand is undoubtedly THE place. I'm sure Australians are looking forward to this happening as soon as possible.
People at Rivian are also watching closely the Cybertruck. Even if it proved no match for the R1T on the Hollister Hills stair steps, it's arguably the most disruptive competitor in the electric pickup truck segment. And considering how difficult it was for Rivian to come up with a better tonneau cover for the R1T, seeing the Cybertruck vault cover withstanding the weight of two people must have been an inspiration if not a challenge. I'd love to hear RJ Scaringe saying, "Challenge accepted," in a Barney Stinson voice.
Cybertruck with the PM of Thailand @Thavisin
— Greggertruck (@greggertruck) November 14, 2023
and @larsmoravy at Tesla Fremont today
Source: TT srettha.thavisin pic.twitter.com/cad2HXMIym
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