Tesla chief designer Franz von Holzhausen announced on the Ride the Lightning podcast that the automaker will provide a DIY scratch removal solution to Cybertruck customers, as per InsideEVs.
Tesla Cybertrucks will be coated
Apparently, the electric automaker will not deliver the Tesla Cybertruck units in a bare metal form.
The report noted that Tesla would coat the electric pickup truck‘s stainless steel body to improve its durability. Most significantly, the coating will enable the self-service removal of scratches on the Cybertruck’s body.
“We spent a lot of time developing a finish that can be — the stainless is incredibly hard — so if in the event that there is a scratch, we do have a process that you could yourself basically buff it and remove the scratch as well and return to the basic finish that’s on the stainless.
There is an intentional finish that we apply to it. And it is able to be cured or fixed, or in the event that you know it’s going to be something pretty intense that does actually scratch the surface.”
Tesla chief designer Franz von Holzhausen
How might Tesla coat the Cybertruck?
Interestingly, Tesla could use any variety of metals to coat the Cybertruck’s body. It may be copper, zinc, or nickel. However, the report noted that the ideal option is rhodium.
The non-radioactive metal rhodium is apparently the rarest, typically employed in the jewelry industry. Its combination of corrosion and wear resistance also makes it an ideal candidate for Cybertruck’s coating.
However, considering the rarity of this metal, the price may discourage Tesla from choosing it.
Production date target
Tesla chief designer Franz von Holzhausen remarked on the same podcast episode that the Cybertruck’s design is almost finished and ready for production. He also confirmed that the production target for the Cybertruck is by mid-2023.
Unfortunately, he did not share any further details. It is worth noting that there have already been at least two delays for the launch of the electric pickup truck. The Cybertruck was unveiled by Tesla in 2019 with a production target of late 2021. However, it now appears that output will increase in late 2023.
We can only wait for the highly awaited electric truck to arrive.
