On November 21, Tesla formally announced the Tesla Cybertruck, which is their latest all-electric vehicle. This light commercial vehicle is the first pickup truck ever made by Tesla at a time when pickup trucks are becoming increasingly popular throughout the U.S.
While pickup trucks made up just 13 percent of the light vehicle market in 2012, this number has risen to more than 17.5 percent this year. Said to be inspired by Blade Runner, this futuristic pickup truck comes with some notable features that Tesla hopes will appeal to the light commercial vehicle industry.
Standard Tesla Cybertruck Features
While Tesla will soon have competition from the electric F-150 by Ford, the Cybertruck has some distinct features that set it apart. All three of the Cybertruck models that have been announced so far come with at least 250kW of supercharging capability, adaptive air suspension, autopilot, and onboard AC outlets. The three models are separated into a single-motor RWD, dual-motor AWD, and tri-motor AWD. While the single-motor model can go from 0-60 MPH in less than 6.5 seconds, the tri-motor model can reach the same mileage in less than 2.9 seconds. For max payload for the Cybertruck is 3,500 pounds, while the towing capacity ranges from 7,500-14,000 pounds.
The Cybertruck models are priced at $39,900-$69,900, which is relatively affordable for an all-electric light commercial vehicle. In fact, the base single-motor RWD model has a similar price to the Tesla Model 3.
The model that you choose also dictates how much mileage you can get before the truck will need to be recharged, which ranges from 250-500 miles. Two additional features that can be useful for light commercial vehicle drivers include an air compressor and lockable storage. When you get inside of the vehicle, the large display at the center of the dashboard offers an extensive number of features and is connected to a camera at the rear of the truck for a clear rear-view look. While only a few settings are currently available to be accessed on the 17-inch touchscreen, Tesla has stated that their in-car software will be a next-gen version once the vehicle is released to the market.
When you access the rear cargo area of the truck, you’ll find that the truck bed offers around 100 cubic feet of exterior storage space. The tonneau cover that’s outfitted with the Tesla Cybertruck is unique among pickup trucks in that it easily slides up or back into place and can withstand a person’s weight. The adaptive air suspension that comes with the Cybertruck has the ability to lower or heighten the truck by up to four inches.
As with all other Tesla vehicles, customers will have the chance to obtain the self-driving software that’s available through Tesla, which is an upgrade that adds $7,000 to the price of the vehicle.
Tesla Cybertruck Design
The most notable aspect of the Cybertruck is the sleek, angular design that differs from any other pickup truck on the market. While it might take a while to get used to the odd design, Tesla believes that it offers some clear advantages when compared to standard pickup trucks. Previous Tesla vehicles are known for their quick acceleration and fantastic sensation of speed.
While the heavyweight of the truck dulls this sensation, the bulky design has allowed for far roomier interiors than is normal with pickup trucks.
When you step inside the vehicle, you’ll be greeted by a spacious seating area where passengers can spread their legs and get comfortable. No matter which of the Tesla Cybertruck models you’re interested in, each model is able to comfortably seat as many as six people. The dashboard at the front of the interiors has a flat, minimalist design that matches the aesthetics of the vehicle exterior.
The chassis or “exoskeleton” of this Cybertruck is made from durable stainless steel that can withstand a large sledgehammer and is also advertised as being able to stop a 9mm bullet.
Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, has stated that the stainless steel used to make the Tesla Cybertruck is the same steel that’s used for the creation of the SpaceX rocket. The armored glass that Tesla uses to make the windows can also withstand high-impact situations. At the moment, the Tesla Cybertruck is set to go into production towards the end of 2021.
While the design of the Tesla Cybertruck caught some viewers off guard when the truck was first unveiled, the polygonal nature of the design has made for a very unique appearance among light commercial vehicles and other pickup trucks. At the moment, there are still some unanswered questions about the design of the vehicle and its ability to effectively enter the light commercial vehicle market.
However, these questions should be answered throughout 2020. Even though the first Tesla Cybertrucks is set to be released to the market in the latter months of 2021, prospective customers have the ability to preorder the vehicle now with a $100 deposit.
