The Real Deal: Tesla's Cybertruck Sub-Frame Unveiled

According to the last words from Elon Musk on the current situation of the Tesla Cybertruck, he basically announced that the electric pick-up was entering its final phase of development, right before ramping up production. The photograph of a complete chassis in which a rear part made up of only two pieces can be distinguished, shows that Tesla´s CEO was not lying: the car is in its final phase before going into production and the large casting presses supplied by the Italian company Indra are already doing their job.

The Tesla Cybertruck was presented in 2019 with the promise that it would start deliveries in 2021. However, the date was constantly delayed until at last Elon Musk confirmed that development would conclude at the "end of 2022" in order to start production "in the middle of 2023” at the Texas Gigafactory. The company has been working hard for this purpose in recent months and its efforts are already giving results.

Kim Java's YouTube channel shows the image of what appears to be a Tesla Cybertruck chassis, although no other information is offered beyond the photograph taken from behind. It reveals the interior structure of the electric pick-up, showing the two large castings that make up the rear sub-frame: one in hydro-formed stainless steel and the other from the large aluminum casting machine supplied by the Italian company Indra.

Musk explained that the Cybertruck would be equipped with an exoskeleton, which would mean that part of its exterior bodywork would have to be structural. Hence, many experts questioned the use of this term: “The Cybertruck is built with an outer shell that offers maximum durability and protection for passengers. Starting with a nearly impenetrable exoskeleton, each component is built to withstand great stress, from the Ultra-Hard 30X cold-rolled stainless steel structural skin to the Tesla bulletproof glass”. With these words the Austin manufacturer describes the design of its structure on its website.

Looking at the photograph in more detail, you can see that - as Musk noted - the rear of the Cybertruck actually requires a larger casting machine than the Model Y: being a longer vehicle with a long bed, it has to logically bear a lot of weight. Hence, the foundry/casting press that Tesla commissioned from Indra is, up to now, the largest casting machine manufactured in the world.

It is therefore plausible to assume that the Tesla Cybertruck is ready for production; Elon Musk was not lying and the image of the two piece sub-frame reveals itself as a tangible evidence.

What can be assured in view of these images is that the Cybertruck is a very real vehicle and that Tesla has every intention of delivering it. The manufacturer's efforts to complete its development and start production silence the rumors that have been dragging on that it could simply be an attempt by Tesla to attract attention and that it would never be actually launched on the market.

Sources:
https://www.businessinsider.com/tesla-cybertruck
https://www.tesla.com/cybertruck
https://www.indra.com/en/news/tesla-cybertruck

All images courtesy of Tesla Inc.

Nico Caballero is the VP of Finance of Cogency Power, specializing in solar energy. He also holds a Diploma in Electric Cars from Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands, and enjoys doing research about Tesla and EV batteries. He can be reached at @NicoTorqueNews on Twitter. Nico covers Tesla and electric vehicle latest happenings at Torque News.