Photo: EveryAmp via Youtube, @VoyageATXBen via X
Tesla Cybertruck started deliveries last November even though not all the features promised were available. Almost six months later, Tesla is yet to offer the most important functions. Among them are locking differentials, driver assistance systems like Autopilot and FSD, and cabin overheat protection.
Tesla Cybertruck was originally unveiled in 2019, but it only started deliveries four years later, in November 2023. Even so, the pickup truck that got into customers' hands has different specifications than the one Tesla promised. Most notably, it costs more and has less range than advertised. The tri-motor Cyberbeast, in particular, can only go 320 miles (515 km) on a charge, compared to the 500 miles (805 km) Tesla promised in 2019.
Those were hardly the only weak spots of the Cybertruck, which raised to become a status icon nevertheless. People loved its peculiar shape, even though they had to contend with its teething problems. Many early Cybertruck owners reported software issues, sometimes leading to soft bricks. Others were quick to point out build quality issues. However, these are still rare occurrences, and most have been corrected via software updates. More annoying are those issues that affect all Cybertruck owners and Tesla has yet to solve.
Among them was the lackluster charging performance of the Cybertruck. Many owners complained that the Cybertruck needed too much time to charge using Tesla's Superchargers. It took slightly longer than expected, but Tesla finally acknowledged this issue and promised a fix. Drew Baglino, Tesla's SVP for Powertrain and Energy, announced that a future software update would unlock up to 154 miles (248 km) recovered in 15 minutes of charging. Currently, the Cybertruck specifications state 128 miles (206 km) added in 15 minutes.
We still don't know how long this software update will take, but another important problem remains unsolved. The Cybertruck doesn't have working locking differentials, which hampers off-road performance. Tesla promised over a month ago that a fix would come soon and even shared a video from the testing session. However, the Cybertruck is still missing the lockers, so charging improvements might also take a while before getting to customer vehicles.
As the days got warmer, another Cybertruck issue became obvious: the lack of cabin overheating protection. Tesla made this a signature feature when promoting other models in the past. The Cabin Overheat Protection feature prevents the cabin from getting too hot when the car is left in the sun. Depending on the settings, it can work with ventilation only or turn on air conditioning when the cabin temperature exceeds the set threshold. However, the Cybertruck lacks this feature.
Unfortunately, it will take a while before Tesla brings it to its electric pickup. After many owners complained about it (some of them daily, as the Cybertruck lead engineer Wes Morrill admitted in a post on X), Tesla promised Cabin Overheat Protection would be offered soon. But not soon enough, I suppose, considering that Cybertruck program manager Siddhant Awasthi said the feature is "noted as high priority for upcoming OTA updates."
Hopefully, this will arrive before the summer is over, although, with global warming, Tesla will have a lot of time to bring it on. However, another important thing missing from the Cybertruck is the basic driver assistance features. Tesla just launched FSD V12.3.4 with support for all models except the Cybertruck. The pickup truck doesn't have basic Autopilot yet, much to the dismay of its owners.
Those were hardly the only weak spots of the Cybertruck, which raised to become a status icon nevertheless. People loved its peculiar shape, even though they had to contend with its teething problems. Many early Cybertruck owners reported software issues, sometimes leading to soft bricks. Others were quick to point out build quality issues. However, these are still rare occurrences, and most have been corrected via software updates. More annoying are those issues that affect all Cybertruck owners and Tesla has yet to solve.
Among them was the lackluster charging performance of the Cybertruck. Many owners complained that the Cybertruck needed too much time to charge using Tesla's Superchargers. It took slightly longer than expected, but Tesla finally acknowledged this issue and promised a fix. Drew Baglino, Tesla's SVP for Powertrain and Energy, announced that a future software update would unlock up to 154 miles (248 km) recovered in 15 minutes of charging. Currently, the Cybertruck specifications state 128 miles (206 km) added in 15 minutes.
We still don't know how long this software update will take, but another important problem remains unsolved. The Cybertruck doesn't have working locking differentials, which hampers off-road performance. Tesla promised over a month ago that a fix would come soon and even shared a video from the testing session. However, the Cybertruck is still missing the lockers, so charging improvements might also take a while before getting to customer vehicles.
As the days got warmer, another Cybertruck issue became obvious: the lack of cabin overheating protection. Tesla made this a signature feature when promoting other models in the past. The Cabin Overheat Protection feature prevents the cabin from getting too hot when the car is left in the sun. Depending on the settings, it can work with ventilation only or turn on air conditioning when the cabin temperature exceeds the set threshold. However, the Cybertruck lacks this feature.
Unfortunately, it will take a while before Tesla brings it to its electric pickup. After many owners complained about it (some of them daily, as the Cybertruck lead engineer Wes Morrill admitted in a post on X), Tesla promised Cabin Overheat Protection would be offered soon. But not soon enough, I suppose, considering that Cybertruck program manager Siddhant Awasthi said the feature is "noted as high priority for upcoming OTA updates."
Hopefully, this will arrive before the summer is over, although, with global warming, Tesla will have a lot of time to bring it on. However, another important thing missing from the Cybertruck is the basic driver assistance features. Tesla just launched FSD V12.3.4 with support for all models except the Cybertruck. The pickup truck doesn't have basic Autopilot yet, much to the dismay of its owners.
The feature is already noted as high priority for upcoming OTA updates
— Siddhant Awasthi (@siddawa) April 12, 2024
Google News