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Tesla Announces the Cybertruck’s Stainless Steel Exoskeleton Will Not Be Used in Any Future Tesla Vehicles, Adds It’s Now Producing Enough 4680 Cells to Build 130,000 Cybertrucks Per Year

Tesla says none of the company’s future vehicles will use the Cybertruck’s stainless steel exoskeleton and accompanying complicated production process. However, Tesla also says 4680 production has fully ramped to support 130K Cybertrucks annually.

Tesla has confirmed that the Cybertruck’s stainless steel exoskeleton and unique production method will not be used on any future Tesla vehicles.

The announcement was quietly tucked away inside Tesla’s 2024 earnings result and the accompanying Investor Deck.

Interestingly, Tesla included a highly technical and surprisingly long list of Cybertruck technological advancements in the investor-targeted document.

Tesla shared that future vehicles will use several of the Cybertuck’s new features, including the steer-by-wire system, rear-wheel steering, 48-volt low-voltage architecture, 800-volt high-voltage architecture, bi-directional charging, integrated audio with body structure, ethernet loop communication, and more.

However, surprisingly, Tesla specifically stated that the cold-rolled stainless steel architecture and the accompanying production process will not be used in future Tesla vehicles.

Tesla made this announcement under the section titled “Cybertruck - Advancements in Vehicle Technology and Architecture.”

Tesla highlighted two advancements regarding the Cybertruck: the stainless steel exoskeleton and the air-bending manufacturing process, and said both will be retired with the Cybertruck.

For the stainless steel exoskeleton, Tesla says…

  • “Cold-rolled full hard stainless steel exoskeleton carries crash loads and increases torsional stiffness of the body.
  • Iconic visual design; high dent and corrosion resistance reduce concerns over daily wear and tear”

For the air-bending manufacturing process, Tesla writes…

  • “First-of-its-kind automated tooling developed by Tesla that can bend full hard stainless steel without touching it
  •  Enables the use of full hard stainless steel as an A-surface without getting scratched by tooling

By “air-bending manufacturing process,” Tesla is refering to how the Cybertruck’s hard stainless steel is bent into various shapes. Tesla passes high-pressure air between the machine and the stainless steel surface, allowing the steel to bend without directly touching the manufacturing equipment. 

As Tesla states, this machine and process prevent the stainless steel from being scuffed during manufacturing.

However, despite highlighting the advantages of using both the stainless steel exoskeleton and the air-bending manufacturing processes, Tesla says it will not use either in future vehicles.

This is a surprising statement from Tesla. When the Cybertruck was first announced, the Tesla community expected that perhaps all future vehicles would adopt the truck’s revolutionary stainless steel exoskeleton approach.

However, after developing and producing the Cybertruck, Tesla appears to have decided that conventional construction materials would be better for future vehicles.

That said, if you’re disappointed that the Cybertruck will be a once-in-a-generation vehicle, fear not. Tesla says the company is now producing enough 4680 cells to power 130,000 Cybertrucks annually.

This means Tesla now has enough 4680 batteries to max out the production capacity of the Cybertruck manufacturing line. According to Tesla, the current factory line can produce 125,000 Cybertrucks per year.

For a long time, Tesla had said that vehicle production was rate-limited by battery availability, but that should no longer be an issue for the Cybertruck.

Having said that, something interesting here is that in Q4 2024, Tesla only sold 23,640 “other model” vehicles. These include the Model S, Model X, and Cybertruck.

Tesla says the Model S and Model X lines at the Fremont, California plant can produce 100,000 vehicles, and the Cybertruck line at Giga Texas has an installed capacity for 125,000 trucks per year.

These three vehicles together should sell 225,000 units per year; however, the Q4 23,640 delivery means less than 100,000 units of Tesla Model S, Model X, and Cybertruck deliveries annually.

Even more concerning, the “other model” category generated almost the same 23,000 sales in Q4 2023. This was before Tesla barely started delivering Cybertrucks. Fast-forward a year, and Tesla is selling the same number of “other model” vehicles despite ramping up Cybertruck production.

Based on this data, the Cybertruck does not appear to be creating a new market for Tesla; instead, it seems to be cannibalizing Model S and Model X sales.

This will be an interesting trend to follow into next year. Please let me know what you think in the comments. Share your ideas by clicking the “Add new comment” button below. Also, visit our site, torquenews.com/Tesla, regularly for the latest updates.

Image: Courtesy of Tesla, inc.

For more information, check out: My Tesla Cybertruck has been Stuck in a Shipping Container for the Past Three Months. I Shipped it From the US to Europe, and Now The Battery is Slowly Dying Out at Sea

Tinsae Aregay has been following Tesla and the evolution of the EV space daily for several years. He covers everything about Tesla, from the cars to Elon Musk, the energy business, and autonomy. Follow Tinsae on Twitter at @TinsaeAregay for daily Tesla news.

Comments

Kevin Yancey (not verified)    January 30, 2025 - 6:43PM

In reply to by Pjamies (not verified)

Considering the number of CTs that were "flood damaged" and not replaced by those owners, I'm betting the novelty of Tesla had already worn off. The saddest part is that a company associated with one of the greatest inventors of the 20th century, is tied to Musk. We should have known that a white man from an upper class South African family would be racist. 100 years ago, there were more automobile manufacturers in the US than you could shake a stick at, before the Depression caused many to fold. Today, we have several new auto companies vying for BEV market share, and some will not survive this fight. My bets aren't on Tesla..

SB (not verified)    January 30, 2025 - 6:15AM

"However, surprisingly, Tesla specifically stated that the cold-rolled stainless steel architecture and the accompanying production process will not be used in future Tesla vehicles"

It is only surprising to people who don't understand how limiting and compromised using stainless steel in a design is.

Jim Svarz (not verified)    January 30, 2025 - 12:19PM

In reply to by SB (not verified)

Tesla used 304 stainless steel because it is easier to “machine” / or cold roll. It however is not nearly as robust compared to 316 stainless. 304 is far more susceptible to corrosion and 304 is magnetic and 316 is not. The old Deloren (sp?) used stainless as well. Probably not a great idea.

Ryan (not verified)    February 4, 2025 - 3:09AM

In reply to by Jim Svarz (not verified)

Delorean used 316 stainless on their vehicles, this is why you can still find them with no rust on the panels, 40+ years later. There will not be a single cybertruck without rust within half that time. (Maybe even within 5 years, as many already have rust within weeks)

Tanks devliN (not verified)    January 30, 2025 - 7:08AM

Your Tesla article is quite confusing to read and follow. Can you be direct and to the point? For example, what do you mean by “installed capacity for 125,000 trucks”.

Randall M (not verified)    February 2, 2025 - 10:46PM

In reply to by Tanks devliN (not verified)

Installed capacity is an industry term that means that the rate of the line and the machines on the line can produce that many vehicles per year utilizing a 2-shift operation.more production may become available with 3-crew ops, but with diminishing returns.

Steve (not verified)    January 31, 2025 - 8:53AM

In reply to by C (not verified)

My guess is that it will show Tesla bleeding like a sieve. It's sad to see such great ideas ruined by a petulant man-child that thinks he deserves to rule the world. He and his buddy trump are poster children for the downside of being handed everything on a silver platter.

Tim (not verified)    February 1, 2025 - 8:28AM

In reply to by Steve (not verified)

You demoncraps just can't leave people alone that don't aline with your marxist Nazi idealist agenda. You pick on trump because he is a threat to the demoncraps. You pick on Musk because he can make millions before breakfast and the fact that both men can't be controlled by the demoncraps and their "fall in line and be a servant" agenda. I hope that Trump and Musk destroy the entire democrat side of government and leave this country with a better government that is by the people, for the people.

A Rivera (not verified)    January 30, 2025 - 9:10AM

Real truck buyers are not interested in radical designs or electric powertrains (ask Ford). They're having a hard time digesting turbo 4s. In my opinion it is a niche vehicle and I personally don't see it reaching mainstream status. It will sell well for a couple more years but it will peak soon. Plus soon owners will find out that stainless steel can and will rust.

Jeff Miller (not verified)    January 30, 2025 - 9:26AM

Cybertrucks cannibalizing s and X sales? Really? I have another hypothesis.

The Upper middle class to wealthy college. Educated new electric car market is no longer interested in buying a Tesla, after the past Year's events in politics, and they never will again.

I own a Model S and a Model X. I will never support anything that is connected to Elon Musk ever again. And there's a lot of people just like me. This guy has alienated probably more than half of his potential customer base because of his ridiculous, outrageous and quite honestly racist behavior. The people at least within the United States that agree with his "politics" generally are not buying electric cars and their attitude towards them hasn't changed, as they see it, they are a American Auto industry wrecking, environmentally horrible vehicle that's going to take a day to charge and it will leave you stranded after 200 miles, The battery only lasts 60,000 mi That cost $25,000 to replace, With an initial cost of $80,000, pile of useless trash. The people that believe that the are the people that Musk has align himself politically with. That is the main reason Tesla's sales growth has slowed. There's more I can say but I'll leave it at that.

John (not verified)    January 30, 2025 - 12:39PM

In reply to by Jeff Miller (not verified)

Spot on. I can't believe how Musk has morphed into this idiotic caricature of doom and comic book fantasy. I really followed him for years with his SpaceX venture and Tesla. So disappointing to see him self-destruct like this. I guess the old adage, power corrupts, is real. Or maybe he was always been this way. 🤷‍♂️ Either way, I will never own a Tesla. Considered it once, now no way.

Mucalitu (not verified)    January 30, 2025 - 6:15PM

In reply to by Jeff Miller (not verified)

Obviously you don’t have those cars , I have a model 3 with 70000 miles with 10% battery loss so I’m still able to complete about 275 miles per charge . Good luck in life same as you wish other people !

bhees (not verified)    February 2, 2025 - 4:59AM

In reply to by Jeff Miller (not verified)

Tesla should develop a gasoline-powered Cybertruck to appeal to the MAGA base. After sales and CO2 levels go through the roof, maybe the dems will miss the old electric Teslas.

Jeffrey (not verified)    January 30, 2025 - 12:12PM

It sounds like Tesla is admitting the cybertruck is a flop. I would expect to see sharp price declines and a much lower resale value.

Jeffrey (not verified)    January 30, 2025 - 12:14PM

It sounds like Tesla is admitting the cybertruck is a flop. I would expect to see sharp price declines and a much lower resale value.

Rick (not verified)    January 30, 2025 - 12:38PM

Buy an EV from an established and reliable manufacturer, not a carnival barker

theom (not verified)    January 30, 2025 - 1:35PM

Ford Edsel... DeLorean DeLorean... Musk Cybertruck
No real future... except in collections...
It's all about Musk and his addictions; dr*ugs, attention, money and now Afd

Jason B (not verified)    January 30, 2025 - 1:54PM

“First-of-its-kind automated tooling developed by Tesla that can bend full hard stainless steel without touching it"

It's hydroforming with air instead of water. As someone who’s a master tech, welder, fabricator, and industrial mechanic, I'm just not impressed. They've been hydroforming in the automotive industry for 35 years. I don't see using air instead of water as anything special.
Also, Elon sucks little furry gopher nuts. Someone needs to end the idiot and all the billionaires that just met with Tяump at Maralago. They are planning to crash the economy so they can double and triple their own wealth. Reagan did it in 81-82. Bush did it in 2008. Tяump did it in 2020. They move all of their money from the stock market and into things like gold, that jump up in value when the stock market crashes, then, when the stock market crashes, they buy buy buy!
Then, when the demoncraps are back in control and the stock market recovers, they double and triple their money. Then when they get back in control, they do it again, it's too bad RepubLieCons are too damn stupid to ever learn anything.