26 Months After 2019 Unveiling of the Tesla Cybertruck It Is "Indefinitely Delayed"
Tesla's Cybertruck earns outstanding media attention and fan support here and at many leading electric vehicle publications. Some stories even highlight the accessories that owners can purchase for their Cybretruck. The only catch is, there is no Cybertruck.
In the sense that Tesla has a plan to make a truck someday, there is a Cybertruck. In the sense that Tesla has built props of the Cybertruck for display at events and some rolling prototypes, there is a Cybertruck. In the sense that a person wishing to own a Cybertruck someday there is one. There just aren't any Cybertrucks in any owner driveways.
The truck was unveiled in November of 2019. How long ago was that? COVID wasn't a thing yet. Joseph Biden held no public office. The auto industry was going great guns, and dealers had inventory piling up on lots. Nobody had ever heard of Squid Game.
How long is 26 months in the auto industry? It's about half of a product lifecycle or generation, which usually lasts about five years. How long is it in the launch of an imaginary EV? Hard to say.
Edmunds reported this weekend that the Cybertuck is now indefinitely delayed. It's not like the truck was about to show up at Tesla retail locations for a President's Day sale event. It was maybe sorta probably going to start production by "the end of this year." We hear.
Just one month ago Elon Musk Tweeted a reply to a fanblog that the Cybertruck would have a "4 motor variant" when initial production starts. It's been 26 months since the product was revealed and Tesla is only now deciding how many motors it will have?
One recent story suggests that the Cybertuck needs to move over because a better new EV truck is going to replace it. But doesn't it have to first exist before it can be replaced?
Four days ago Fortune published an article titled, "Chevy Silverado or Tesla Cybertruck? These are the electric pickups competing for your wallet." Neither is expected to be available this year. So, how are they competing for my wallet if I can't give the company money from my wallet to give me a truck? And do people who buy futuristic EVs actually carry wallets anymore?
Is the Cybertruck real or is it vaporware? What say you? Tell us in the comments below.
John Goreham is a long-time New England Motor Press Association member and recovering engineer. John's interest in EVs goes back to 1990 when he designed the thermal control system for an EV battery as part of an academic team. After earning his mechanical engineering degree, John completed a marketing program at Northeastern University and worked with automotive component manufacturers, in the semiconductor industry, and in biotech. In addition to Torque News, John's work has appeared in print in dozens of American news outlets and he provides reviews to many vehicle shopping sites. You can follow John on TikTok @ToknCars, on Twitter, and view his credentials at Linkedin
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Image of Cybertruck Courtesy of Tesla, Inc. Screen shot related to Tesla Cybertruck courtesy of Twitter