It’s official: Tesla Cybertruck delayed until at least 2022
Tesla has finally conceded its much-hyped Cybertruck has been delayed until at least 2022.
Since revealing the prototype version of the radical electric ute in late 2019 Tesla had suggested production would begin late in 2021.
But the leading EV brand has admitted that will not happen, changing its website over the weekend to acknowledge the earliest that production of the wedge-shaped load lugger would begin would be sometime in 2022.
Tesla first hinted that production of the Cybertruck at the still-under-construction Austin Gigafactory in Texas could be delayed in announcing its record quarterly profit weeks ago.
EXCLUSIVE REPORT: Every electric ute and pickup truck currently under development
READ MORE: The Teslas that now cost $15K more
But as late as last week Tesla was claiming buyers could “complete your configuration as production nears in late 2021”.
Now anyone wanting to place a refundable $150 deposit on the Cybertruck is being told: “You will be able to complete your configuration as production nears in 2022”.
Even that wording appears to be leaving the door open to Cybertruck production pushing into 2023 or beyond.
And Tesla deliveries in Australia can often run years behind when the cars first go on sale overseas, so it could still be a long wait locally.
The Cybertruck is one of more than a dozen electric utes and pickup trucks currently promised or under development.
It will go head-to-head with the Ford F-150 Lightning, which has won the race to go on sale, with sales in America slated for the second quarter of 2022.
Rival brands Chevrolet, GMC, Hummer and Ram have also confirmed electric pickup trucks, while newcomers such as Rivian look set to beat Tesla to market.
Tesla also no longer details which of the three Cybertruck models is likely to arrive first.
Previously, the US$69,900 top-of-the-range Tri Motor AWD was due to be one of the first models manufactured, along with the Dual Motor AWD.
The Cybertruck Tri Motor AWD is claimed to have upwards of 805km of EV range, tow more than 6350kg and complete the 0-60mph (96km/h) dash in 2.9 seconds.
The US$49,900 Cybertruck Dual Motor AWD claims upwards of 483km of EV range, more than 4535kg of tow capacity and the ability to hit 96km/h in 4.5 seconds.
The most affordable US$39,900 Single Motor RWD version of the Cybertruck – which had always been scheduled to enter production late in 2022 – now gets the same estimated production time. In other words, production is due to near in 2022, possibly later.
That Cybertruck Single Motor RWD has an estimated 402km-plus range, 3400-plus-kiliogram tow capacity and 0-96km/h time of less than 6.5 seconds.
Australian pricing for the Cybertruck has not been announced, but the Single Motor RWD is about the same price as a Tesla Model 3 Standard Range Plus, which in Australia sells for about $64,500.
If Tesla could sell the Cybertruck for anything close to that price it would put it in the sweet spot of the ute market in Australia, which is now at record highs, accounting for more than one in five new vehicle sales.
Globally, Tesla is reportedly holding more than one million pre-orders for the Cybertruck. However, given those orders only require a $150 refundable deposit there’s a good chance many won’t turn into purchases.
The Cybertruck is radically different to any other pickup truck, even in its construction.
Most utes use a steel chassis – also called a ladder frame construction – underneath with the body attached to the top. That body is usually constructed of steel or aluminium panels.
But the Cybertruck uses stainless steel body panels that form a key part of the structure and strength of the vehicle. The panels are claimed to be bulletproof, as is the glass, with Tesla suggesing “the truck you want in the apocalypse is the Cybertruck”.
The vehicle Tesla has shown is currently a prototype that will undergo design changes before production begins.
Tesla chief and spokesperson Elon Musk has previously said the production version “is going to be better than what we showed”.
However, he has also previously hinted that the Cybertruck may not meet regulatory approval in markets such as Australia because it did not meet European regulations that the Australian Design Rules closely align with.
