Elon Musk said that Tesla will begin selling the Cybertruck in 2023 during the launch party for the company’s Giga Texas factory last year. We can now get even more specific about when to expect its debut. The Verge reports that on Tesla’s most recent earnings call, Musk informed shareholders to expect a Cybertruck delivery event sometime in the third quarter. Although Tesla initially planned to begin mass-producing the vehicle this summer, the company has now pushed out that date to 2024.
It takes time to get the manufacturing line working, and this is really a really radical product, Musk reportedly told investors on the call. When asked to elaborate, he said, “It’s not made in the way that other cars are made.” Cybertruck Tesla demonstrated last year had no door handles and could detect when its owner was nearby to autonomously open the doors. However, true to the automaker’s original vision, it is crafted from stainless steel, which is more expensive than standard steel. The Verge reports that the electric vehicle’s construction needs specialized welding methods and numerous custom-made parts.
Since its first announcement in 2019, the Cybertruck has been repeatedly postponed. After being delayed from 2021 to 2022 and then 2023, Tesla’s planned and highly optimistic initial launch date has now been moved back to 2024. Initial estimates placed the price of the car at between $39,900 and $70,000, depending on the number of motors desired. However, Tesla issued a warning earlier this year that its final specifications and pricing have not yet been finalized and may depend on a number of circumstances, including supply chain bottlenecks and the economy.
