Tesla CEO Elon Musk disclosed additional details on the highly awaited Cybertruck at the company’s 2023 Annual Shareholder Meeting on May 16.
As ev-a2z previously reported, the battery-powered light-duty truck introduced in 2019 will finally begin production in late 2023.
Now, we have some interesting updates provided by the Tesla boss himself.
Cybertruck updates
Design
CEO Musk stated that the Cybertruck has a “radically new design,” making its production complex.
“So the Cybertruck is a hard car to make…because it’s a such a radically new design…actually you can’t just use conventional methods of manufacturing…had to invent a whole new set of manufacturing techniques in order to build an exoskeleton based car instead of an endoskeleton based car…extremely non-trivial to build the Cybertruck but we’re making good progress.”
Tesla CEO Elon Musk
Production targets
The billionaire also announced that the automaker would initially have an annual production capacity of 250,000 units.
“We’re finally going to start delivering a production of Cybertrucks later this year. There will be an s-curve of production, so it’ll be slow at first and then…ramping up.
We’re likely to do probably a quarter million a year I think…maybe more…again very much dependent on what the demand is like and…we also needed [to] improve the production cost efficiency…which is going to be also a very, very hard thing…so… I’d say…a quarter million a year is a reasonable guess.”
Tesla CEO Elon Musk
However, he also remarked that it might double the 250,000-unit target, depending on the demand.
“It might be 500,000. I don’t know but we’ll make as many as people want.”
Tesla CEO Elon Musk
Pricing
The Tesla boss hinted that the Cybertruck would be expensive as many have expected. He cited the new production method as the primary factor that increases its yet-to-be-unveiled pricing.
“It’s going to be hard to make [it] affordable because it is a new car, a new manufacturing method.”
Tesla CEO Elon Musk
In retrospect, he initially announced that the Cybertruck would have a base price of $39,000 in 2019. However, it seems unrealistic as the e-truck is only in its initial years of manufacturing.
Tesla RV plans
CEO Musk also clarified that the automaker currently has no plans to develop an RV. However, he “can certainly see how a Cybertruck could be converted into an RV.”
“Adding a lot of…attach points to cyber truck so others can build things…[so] somebody could have a startup [to] build things that are attachments that enhance Cybertruck and turn it into a camper.”
Tesla CEO Elon Musk
See Also:
- Tesla Cybertruck nears production with the arrival of its final stamping part
- Tesla may launch Cybertruck’s delivery event at the end of Q3, per CEO Musk
- High “intent to buy” remains among Tesla Cybertruck reservation holders, according to a survey
- Tesla prepares Cybertruck production with the delivery of its second 9k-ton Giga Press
- Tesla boosts job postings for Cybertruck production in Giga Texas
Interestingly, the famous CEO of various tech firms declared that he plans to use the Cybertruck on a “day-to-day basis,” hinting at the EV’s competence and efficiency.
You can watch Tesla’s 2023 Annual Shareholder Meeting live stream below:
