Photo: Tesla
When the Cybertruck rolled onto a stage in November 2019, a late 2021 delivery date for the dual-motor AWD version seemed doable. Even at this late stage, it still does – but it will take some luck to actually make it happen.
This is coming from Tesla CEO Elon Musk, on an earnings call with investors, as reported by Business Insider. Tesla has a well-documented history of missed self-imposed deadlines, so hearing Musk saying “if we get lucky,” the original deadline for the Cybertruck will be met is perhaps the first sign that it won’t. Musk has said before, in reference to the much-hyped truck, that presenting a prototype is a walk in the park compared to scaling production.
There is a silver lining even to the scenario of a delay: the design is finished. Musk did not say what changes to the prototype had been implemented but he did say this: “We're no longer iterating at the design center level...We've got the designs fixed. We'll soon order the equipment necessary to make the Cybertruck.”
An 8,000-ton casting machine will be used for the Cybertruck’s rear body, as opposed to the 6,000-tone one used for the Model Y, because the pickup is much bigger, Musk explained. Manufacturing will start at the new Gigafactory in Austin, Texas, which should open sometime this year.
“I think it's going to be an incredible vehicle,” Musk added. “If we get lucky, we'll be able to do a few deliveries toward the end of this year, but I expect volume production to be in 2022.”
At this point, not even initial skeptics of the Cybertruck design doubt that it will be an incredible vehicle. But Musk’s recent comments should put a damper on the hopes of future owners still expecting to get their truck by the end of the year. With delivery depending on so many variables, betting on luck is probably not very wise.
There is a silver lining even to the scenario of a delay: the design is finished. Musk did not say what changes to the prototype had been implemented but he did say this: “We're no longer iterating at the design center level...We've got the designs fixed. We'll soon order the equipment necessary to make the Cybertruck.”
An 8,000-ton casting machine will be used for the Cybertruck’s rear body, as opposed to the 6,000-tone one used for the Model Y, because the pickup is much bigger, Musk explained. Manufacturing will start at the new Gigafactory in Austin, Texas, which should open sometime this year.
“I think it's going to be an incredible vehicle,” Musk added. “If we get lucky, we'll be able to do a few deliveries toward the end of this year, but I expect volume production to be in 2022.”
At this point, not even initial skeptics of the Cybertruck design doubt that it will be an incredible vehicle. But Musk’s recent comments should put a damper on the hopes of future owners still expecting to get their truck by the end of the year. With delivery depending on so many variables, betting on luck is probably not very wise.
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