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.
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Tesla’s latest FSD update, version 2024.27.5 brings some improvements when parking your vehicle. This is another undocumented, but one we’re happy to see.
Most recently, the Cybertruck received the undocumented change for the Hands-Free Frunk opening (video below). The Cybertruck also recently received Vision Park Assist, which included steering wheel guides in the visualization showing the direction the front and rear wheels were turned. However, it turns out this isn’t just for the Cybertruck.
Update: We’ve updated this article to mention that this feature isn’t included in update 2024.32 yet.
Quick video on the auto frunk. It's literally 🧍♂️📐
Due to the Cybertruck’s unique rear-wheel steering and steer-by-wire design, Park Assist in the Cybertruck displayed the path of the front wheels, and how they would swing while reversing.
This enhancement is also coming to every Tesla vehicle in FSD 12.5.2 and later. It’s also expected to be available in a future update for non-FSD vehicles. However, it’s unclear whether it will be a later revision of update 2024.32 or the next major Tesla update. This is a neat little update, as it helps drivers better understand and predict the path their vehicle will take during a turn.
Brandon, going by @teslaflexx on X, originally spotted the new visuals recently on an AMD-based Model Y running 2024.27.5 and FSD V12.5.2.
Any vehicles who are on update 2024.27.5 or 2024.27.20 should have access to this new feature.
Looks like Cybertruck wasn’t the only vehicle to get the new guide visuals with park assist. Much better than the lines! pic.twitter.com/tF9ZsWCcWy
Tesla’s Cybertruck has been used as an awesome off-road vehicle so far, with some great videos from both Tesla themselves, as well as many owners who have been challenging difficult off-road obstacles.
One frequently requested feature, however, is additional armor for the Cybertruck to improve its off-road capabilities. Wes Morril, Program Manager for the Cybertruck, has confirmed that Tesla will be introducing Battery Armor and Rock Sliders as retrofit “options” by the end of 2024.
Battery Armor
The Cybertruck’s underbody plate, while not completely unarmoured, isn’t exactly super thick, and can leave the battery exposed if the weight of the truck is left on a high-center point or a sharp rock. This upcoming battery armor will be similar to the armored undersides offered by other companies specifically for off-roading.
Rivian, for example, sells armor as a single package for $3,950 USD, or $5,800 CAD, along with a 20” wheel upgrade, full-size spare, and a utility panel including an air compressor and enough hose to let you reach any of the tires when airing up or down your tires for off-road. Tesla’s upcoming Battery Armor will be a retrofit option, unlike Rivian’s – which can only be added when purchasing the vehicle.
Rock Sliders
The Cybertruck has a simple and clean bottom corner – but that also means that it exposes the plastic trim directly. Rock sliders go on the bottom edge of off-road vehicles between the wheels to protect the vehicle's body. Rock sliders are a pretty common modification, and some companies have already begun to offer them for the Cybertruck – but a first-party OEM option is always best.
This is especially true since most third-party options use the lift points of the vehicle to attach rock sliders, which can make replacing wheels or lifting the vehicle difficult without removing the third-party additions. This adds considerable time to what should be a quick job.
Release Date
We’re looking forward to Tesla bringing these options to the Tesla store in the coming months. Wes said they’d be available as retrofits before the end of 2024, along with the upcoming Winter Tire Package, which is arriving next month. The Winter Tire Package is already available to order for Cybertruck owners.
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