Cybertruck Master Candidates Signal Imminent Production at Texas Gigafactory

Tesla produces Cybertruck master candidates

Joe Tegtmeyer

Joe Tegtmeyer, a drone pilot who has been providing aerial footage of Giga Texas for more than three years, posted more footage that will make Tesla Cybertruck reservation holders happy.

The latest insights paint a picture of revitalized activity at Gigafactory Texas, revealing that "most of the employees have come back to work." The busy parking lots and lines of employees awaiting transport, unseen for the past three weeks, underscore a renewed momentum.

Crafting the Master Candidates

Tegtmeyer's coverage goes all around the factory, but he caught a rare glimpse of what could be the unicorn, the actual production-ready Cybertruck. Weather conditions the night before had left the covers off what are believed to be two Master Candidates. "I was fortunate to capture these images while the car cover was off because of some storms that came through last night," he shares, showcasing the Cybertrucks' refined state and readiness for production.

"These are the final candidates being produced to ensure all the tooling is correct, all the training is correct," explains Tegtmeyer, highlighting the crucial role these units play in ironing out the nuances of production.

This series, also known as the 800 series, is notably closer to the final production version than the earlier release candidates of series six that we spotted around the country over the last couple of months. Insights suggest that Tesla's leadership was set to conduct a final evaluation of the Cybertrucks, a decisive step before giving the green light to official production.

Identifying these vehicles as Master Candidates has sparked online speculations and noticeable changes for reservation holders on Tesla's platform. "It's great to see," remarks Tegtmeyer, discussing the anticipation surrounding these vehicles, pivotal in validating the production line's final changes and operations.

Ensuring Precision and Final Adjustments

Tegtmeyer sheds light on Tesla's meticulous approach with the Master Candidates, emphasizing their significance in ensuring tooling precision, thorough training, and making last-minute adjustments. "These Master Candidates are great to see," Tegtmeyer stated, signaling the culmination of extensive preparation and refinement ahead of full-scale production.

Reflecting on the progress and the visible refinement of the Cybertrucks on site, Tegtmeyer observes, "It really looks great and it does look like it's probably a Master Candidate," we could not agree more! The detailed exploration at Gigafactory Texas has given potential customers and us a closer look at the much-anticipated Cybertruck. The revealed images, insider information, and Tegtmeyer's commentary collectively build anticipation as Tesla inches closer to officially rolling the Cybertruck off the production line.

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Tesla Improves Wrap Services: Cuts Prices Drastically, Adds New Colors and Expands Availability

Not a Tesla App

After canceling the in-house wrap program for the Cybertruck last month, Tesla has reintroduced the program with a lot of changes. Let’s take a look at the original program, then we’ll dive into what’s changed.

Tesla began the wrap program for the Model 3 and Model Y in the fall of 2023. With the arrival of the Cybertruck, Tesla launched Matte Black and Satin White options for the Cybertruck and later added 11 more colors.

These are high-quality PPF (Paint Protection Film) wraps, which protect the paint in addition to changing the color of the vehicle. PPF is thicker, lasts longer, and is far superior to traditional vinyl wraps, but unfortunately, the service is only available if your vehicle is brand new.

When the program shuttered last month, many people were disappointed about the closing as it allowed owners to bundle the cost of the wrap service into the vehicle’s financing.

New Wrap Prices

First things first - the price of the wraps has dropped considerably, and Tesla does not appear to be using a different material - it is still PPF, not vinyl. These new prices are a lot more comparable to third-party offerings that normally use vinyl wraps.

Tesla initially offered 11 wrap colors, but that selection has now been reduced to eight per vehicle. Interestingly, the color options vary by model—Model 3 and Model Y owners have their own distinct palette. The Cybertruck also boasts its own unique set of colors, though unfortunately, the popular Satin White option is absent from its catalog.

Of course, the ever-popular Matte Black is still available, along with a fairly unique set of other vivid colors.

New Locations

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When the wrap program launched, it was limited to just three locations in California and one location in Texas. That meant that unless you were taking delivery at West Covina, Oceanside, Costa Mesa, or Santa Clara, you’d be unable to get a first-party wrap done by Tesla.

Now, under the new program, Tesla is offering wraps out of all the original locations and adding Seattle, Washington. What initially seemed like Tesla scaling back its wrap service has turned out to be to them making it more affordable and efficient.

New Purchases Only

For now, the wrap offers are still constrained to new vehicle purchases—you won’t be able to have Tesla wrap a vehicle that’s already been delivered. Paint damage and scuffs can impact the installation of PPF and require additional time to smooth out the vehicle surface.

Either way, with cheaper wrap options, Tesla is now directly competing against third-party wrap shops when it comes to wrapping vehicles in PPF. While it’s still a bit more expensive than you’d find elsewhere, it also comes with a level of care and precision from technicians intimately familiar with your vehicle.

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Tesla Increases Price of Model S; Starts Offering Free Lifetime Supercharging

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For the first time in quite a while, Tesla has increased the price of one of its vehicle offerings. The Model S Long Range and the Model S Plaid have both received a hefty price increase. However, not all is bad - as Tesla also added a new benefit for buyers.

Price Increase

The price increase for the Model S is $5,000 - currently only in the United States. This price increase will likely impact other markets, including Canada, in the coming days.

The Model S Long Range now starts at $79,990, while the Model S Plaid now starts at $94,990. The Model S and Model X now have the same starting price. Interestingly, that’s also the same pricing point for the Cybertruck AWD and Cyberbeast Trimotor non-Foundation Series. 

The vehicle configuration does not appear to have changed, so the new pricing is simply an increase rather than the addition or removal of features. Tesla previously cut the price of the Model S and Model X by 15% in 2023, so this could simply be an adjustment to ensure that the vehicle pricing stays in line with inflation and other factors.

Free Lifetime Supercharging

For those on the fence about ordering a Model S, Tesla has brought back Free Lifetime Supercharging when you order a new Model S on or after December 13, 2024. As always, Free Lifetime Supercharging is restricted to the buyer’s Tesla account and to that specific vehicle. It cannot be transferred to another vehicle or another owner after ownership transfer. It’s worth noting, that it also doesn’t exclude the owner from receiving Supercharger idle fees or congestion fees. There is currently no end date for this promotion.

There are currently no changes to the Model X, neither a price increase nor the addition of Lifetime Superchargering. However, when Tesla makes changes to one of their premium vehicles, it usually affects the other one as well. So be on the lookout for potential changes to the Model X offering in the coming days.

We’ve seen Tesla value Lifetime Supercharging at $5,000, so this falls in line with the price increase we’re seeing. It’s possible that Tesla will begin to bring back Lifetime Supercharging as a perk for buying into their more premium Model S and Model X cars, or this could be another temporary promotion to get buyers who are on the fence to go ahead and make their purchase while this promotion lasts.

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