The Tesla Cybertruck, a futuristic silver vehicle that more than a little bit resembles the Peavey Electronics logo (and they think so, too), will enter initial production this year.
Kinda. Probably. Maybe? Don’t get too excited either way. The latest delay means that in all likelihood, those waiting for the Cybertruck won’t get one until at least next year.
“I wouldn’t put too much stock in the start of production,” Tesla CEO Elon Musk said on the company’s fourth quarter earnings call this week. Don’t get too specific on us!
Musk emphasized that while production will technically begin in 2023, next year, 2024, is the year to really pay attention to when mass production will begin, mainly at Giga Texas in Austin.
“We do expect production to start sometime this summer, but I always kind of downplay the start of production because the start of production is always very slow,” Musk said.
The Cybertruck was announced in early 2019 by Musk, who said that his electric “cyberpunk, Blade Runner-like” truck will have a range of up to 500 miles and towing capacity of 14,000 pounds.
Musk unveiled the Cybertruck on November 21, 2019 at an event in Los Angeles in which he demonstrated the vehicle’s unbreakable windows by having an executive chuck a metal ball at them. It broke.
Still, those interested in purchasing a vehicle that seemed like it was still rendering could reserve a Cybertruck for $100, which was refundable. Reuters reported that, by last November, “hundreds of thousands of potential buyers,” were eagerly awaiting the electric truck, which missed production start dates in 2021, 2022, and early 2023.
Last year, Musk announced that the original base price of $39,000 would be increasing, but so far a new base price has not been announced. A reason for the delay hasn’t been announced, but it is believed to be tied to a delay in the Tesla 4680-cell battery pack used to provide the Cybertruck with its extended range.