Tesla Officially Completes First Cybertruck, but We’ll Have To Wait for First Deliveries

By Kevin Armstrong
Tesla has completed their first production Cybertruck
Tesla has completed their first production Cybertruck
Tesla (Edited by NATA)

In a landmark moment, Tesla officially built its first Cybertruck at the Gigafactory in Texas, signalling the dawn of a new era in the EV market. Depending on where you are in the world, a late Friday night or Saturday morning tweet by Tesla had people talking all weekend. Seeing is believing, as the tweet has been viewed nearly 60 million times.

The completion of the first production unit brings into focus Tesla's earlier commitment to a third-quarter launch event, as indicated by CEO Elon Musk. With the third quarter well underway, this inaugural production hints at a likely unveiling of the Cybertruck to the public within this timeframe.

Patience Required: Predicting Delivery Timelines

Considering the previous timelines between first production and customer deliveries, as cited by techAU, Tesla fans may need to wait a bit longer patiently. The Twitter user noted an average of 92 days from the production of the first vehicle to the first customer deliveries, based on the timelines for the Model 3 and Model Y. Tesla's tweet appeared with 78 days left in the quarter. This timeline could align well with the Q3 launch event.

Now to dissect the image, as we’ve done with every sighting of Cybertruck for months. The gigantic windshield wiper remains, and despite being a major sticking point for Musk, the Texas-sized wiper made it to production. Also, the side mirrors are visible, but Musk has said those could be removed. However, it should be noted that not having side mirrors is illegal in several jurisdictions.

The truck bed is black, differing from earlier prototypes that showed it as stainless steel. Traditional door handles are missing, which aligns with earlier prototype videos that show the door opening slightly by touching a button in the B-pillar. Check out our previous article that captures some of the other features we expect to see in this stainless steel wonder.

The Road to Production: A Journey Filled with Speed Bumps

Since the Cybertruck's announcement nearly four years ago, November 21, 2019, to be exact, the journey to production has seen its fair share of speed bumps. Initially slated for production in 2021, the target was delayed due to a myriad of factors, including disruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic and battery supply challenges as Tesla ramped up production of the Model Y and advanced its 4680-cell production process.

Sightings of test Cybertrucks and leaked photos from inside the Gigafactory suggested that production was nearing. Now, this milestone has been realized, rekindling expectations for imminent deliveries. Completing the first Cybertruck signals a momentous step forward for Tesla and the broader electric vehicle market despite the uncharted waters and uncertainties ahead.

Tesla Expected to Offer FSD Transfers in Europe

By Karan Singh
Not a Tesla App

It has been a long wait for FSD for European customers, many of whom paid for the feature years ago on now legacy hardware. While the FSD transfer program has come and gone multiple times, there’s something to be said about having it available in North America, where it can be used, and in Europe or other countries, where it still just remains the same as Enhanced Autopilot (differences between Autopilot, EAP, and FSD).

FSD Transfer is a nice goodwill gesture from Tesla that in theory doesn’t cost them anything. Instead, it keeps customers, especially those who have been waiting for years, loyal and happy. It also incentivizes them to upgrade to a newer Tesla with HW4, where FSD will hopefully be achieved.

In a reply to a post on X, Elon agreed with the suggestion that offering FSD transfers in Europe would be a fair solution for those who have already purchased FSD but can’t use its capabilities.

A Fair Solution

FSD Transfer directly addresses a growing concern for many long-term European Tesla owners. Thousands of customers purchased the full package, often many years ago, with the expectation that FSD would eventually be capable and approved for use. However, the reality is that FSD, even as an advanced driver assistance system (ADAS), continues to be pushed back in Europe.

As the regulatory process continues at a snail's pace, many of these early supporters are now reaching or have already passed the point where they’re ready to upgrade to a new Tesla.

Without the transfer program, it's a difficult choice: either throw away your original investment in FSD and pay for the package a second time (FSD price history), or subscribe to it in the future.

Offering FSD transfers is a good way for Tesla to meet them halfway. It's a difficult situation, and one that’s being hindered by processes beyond the control of both the customer and Tesla. However, a transfer helps both parties. Tesla sells another vehicle, and the customer gets to keep FSD.

When Will it Be Available?

Based on how FSD transfers have worked in the past following Elon’s announcements, this feature is likely to become available for a limited time period in the coming days or weeks. If it happens, we should expect an announcement from Tesla Europe on X and emails being sent out to Tesla customers.

Once the program is in place, all you need to do is complete your vehicle purchase and then inform your Tesla sales advisor that you’d like to transfer FSD. You don’t even have to sell or trade in your old Tesla; FSD will simply be removed from it as a feature.

Hopefully, Tesla enables FSD Transfers for everyone, regardless of region. It should be an ongoing offer until at least FSD is approved in the given country or region.

Tesla Increases Robotaxi Fare Fee, Up from $4.20

By Karan Singh
Not a Tesla App

The introductory price for Tesla’s Robotaxi Network has finally been updated. In a post on X, Elon Musk confirmed that the new fare would be rolling out to complement the new Robotaxi geofence expansion.

This change marks the first adjustment to Tesla’s fares since the initial $4.20 launch price 23 days ago. While the price increase may seem significant in terms of percentages, when compared to other options in the ride-hailing area, it is still drastically cheaper.

Context Matters

Robotaxi currently operates on a simple, flat-rate model. The new $6.90 fare gets you a ride to anywhere within the recently expanded geofence.

So far, this is the opposite approach compared to other services, such as Waymo or traditional ride-sharing options like Uber and Lyft. All these services use dynamic pricing based on distance, time of day, and demand. A comparable trip on any one of these services could cost anywhere from $30 to $65, and potentially even higher during peak hours.

That doesn’t even include the tip fees for human drivers either - another win for Robotaxi (can you tip a Robotaxi?).

Even with the adjustment, the flat $6.90 fare remains less than half the price of a typical competing ride, making Robotaxi the most affordable point-to-point transportation option in Austin, aside from mass transit, for now.

A “Maturing” Service

The price change, moving from one meme-worthy number to another, is a sign that Robotaxi is finally graduating from its initial pilot phase. Following the first major expansion of the service area, this adjustment is a logical next step towards finding a more sustainable flat price.

While the new fare is a 65% increase over the old fare, the key takeaway is that it is still far cheaper than other options, and still just as meme-worthy. Tesla is aiming to have its early access riders complete as many rides as possible during these early months, and this pricing is still very reflective of that.

Latest Tesla Update

Confirmed by Elon

Take a look at features that Elon Musk has said will be coming soon.

More Tesla News

Tesla Videos

Latest Tesla Update

Confirmed by Elon

Take a look at features that Elon Musk has said will be coming soon.

Subscribe

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter