Tesla is expected to offer wraps for the Cybertruck
SawyerMerritt/X
Tesla's long-awaited Cybertruck is finally set to make its debut, but expectations may need to be adjusted. After years of anticipation and delays, the Cybertruck is scheduled for its first deliveries at an event on November 30th. However, the volume of these initial deliveries is notably small, with only 10 units slated to be handed over.
Limited Initial Deliveries: A Familiar Strategy
Tesla's approach with the Cybertruck is reminiscent of its past product launches. For example, the Model 3's initial delivery event in 2017 saw just 30 cars being delivered, primarily to company employees. This pattern seems to be repeating with the Cybertruck, as Tesla Product Design Director Javier Verdura confirmed that 10 units will be delivered at Tesla's upcoming event.
While some fans and reservation holders might find this number disappointing, it's important to note that this approach allows the company to manage production challenges and quality control issues more effectively before ramping up to larger volumes.
Production Challenges
Tesla CEO Elon Musk has previously warned about the "enormous challenges" facing the Cybertruck, particularly in terms of production and profitability. The vehicle's stainless-steel body, a unique feature of the Cybertruck, poses significant production challenges. Musk has indicated that it could take up to 18 months for the Cybertruck to reach a production rate of 5,000 units per week, targeting volume production by 2025.Tesla has faced production challenges in the past with its other models, and the Cybertruck might not be an exception.
What Lies Ahead for the Cybertruck?
Despite these challenges, Tesla is known for its ability to navigate complex manufacturing hurdles. The Cybertruck, with its futuristic design and promised capabilities, remains one of the most anticipated electric vehicles of the decade. However, with such low volume being handed over to employees on November 30th, it may be a while longer before all of our Cybertruck questions get answered. As Tesla prepares for the delivery event, it's clear that the journey of the Cybertruck from a concept to a mass-produced vehicle will be closely watched. The event will take place in just 10 days, and is expected to be live streamed on Tesla's website and YouTube.
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to stay up to date on the latest Tesla news, upcoming features and software updates.
Tesla’s Giga Texas factory usually gives us the first site of Tesla’s upcoming products. We first saw the Cybertruck and Model Y castings here. With Giga Texas being one of Tesla’s largest factories, it’s logical that most products would originate here.
Tesla has also stated that it intends to manufacture the Cybercab, Semi, the next-generation vehicle, and Optimus at Giga Texas over the coming years. The affordable vehicle and Cybercab were originally intended to be manufactured at Giga Mexico, but the plans for that facility were waylaid by changes in economic policy.
Robotaxi Castings
These new castings were spotted by Joe Tegtmeyer, who regularly does drone flights of Giga Texas. Joe pointed out that these castings don’t look like the usual Model Y or Cybertruck castings usually seen outside Giga Texas.
With an eagle eye, @minusYCore on X also spotted some interesting text on the frames holding the castings up. In particular, the castings say “RTTX050” and “W68-RSF AS-CAST”. These could be interpreted as ‘Robotaxi Texas’ and ‘Rear SubFrame,’ as Tesla marks Cybertruck castings as “CTTX.” The as-cast portion indicates that these particular castings haven’t been trimmed yet, according to the X user.
The castings laid out.
@JoeTegtmeyer
The size and shape of these castings—combined with rumors that Tesla’s more affordable vehicle has been delayed—suggest that these castings are intended for the Cybercab.
These castings are much flatter and appear to be a different size than the castings found throughout Giga Texas, indicating that they are intended for an entirely different product.
It’s possible that these are the first castings used by Tesla to test their unboxed assembly process, which the Cybercab is expected to rely on. If you take a closer look at the video below, you’ll note that these new castings look very similar to the ones in the unboxed assembly video.
Interestingly, Tesla did say that they don’t intend to have the Cybercab available for customers before late 2026 or early 2027, but we’ll likely hear updated timelines as Tesla’s Q1 2025 Earnings Call tomorrow.
A more vertical look at the castings.
@JoeTegtmeyer
New Giga Presses
To top it all off, new parts for a Giga Press - the machine Tesla uses to make these castings - were also sighted in Texas. These machines are few and far between, and each one is highly specialized for the particular vehicle it produces. Seeing new parts coming in usually indicates that a new assembly line is under construction, or that changes are being made to an existing line to either expand it or update it.
There’s a lot happening and we will hopefully know more tomorrow evening.
Tesla’s first large-scale partner for the Tesla Semi - PepsiCo - is building out another Semi Megacharger site per a recent filing found by MarcoRP. Building out these Semi charging sites is expensive due to their much higher power output when compared to Superchargers.
Name Change
Interestingly enough, Tesla appears to have shifted its terminology recently, now often referring to the Semi’s high-power charging solution as Tesla Semi Chargers instead of the previously common "Megachargers." Regardless of the name, these chargers are crucial for the Semi. They’re designed to deliver 1.2 megawatts of charging power capable of adding hundreds of miles of range in roughly 30 minutes.
Frito-Lay Site
The new site detailed in the recent filing will be located at a Frito-Lay production plant on Hageman Road in Bakersfield, California. Permits were filed just a couple of days ago for the installation of eight Tesla Semi Charger stalls along with their associated electrical equipment.
This facility adds to PepsiCo's existing network of chargers, supporting the Tesla Semis operating out of their Sacramento facility, and highlights Bakersfield as the next expansion of the Semi’s operational area. Notably, this new Frito-Lay charging site is strategically located just five miles (approx. 8 km) away from a massive future public charging complex Tesla is planning on Kelton Way.
Kelton Way Charging Complex
Tesla’s planned charging complex in Bakersfield, which is just down the road, will feature 72 Supercharger stalls, as well as 18 Semi charger stalls. According to pre-permits filed last month, this site will be fairly large and accessible to both the public and Tesla’s partners.
A rendering of the Kelton Way site - with the Semi Chargers on the outside, and the Covered Supercharger site in the center.
@MarcoRPi1 on X
Tesla plans to develop a vacant plot right off the interstate into a large charging hub, which is now the second major public Semi Charger site we’ve heard about. For now, these sites will remain rare, but we expect that Tesla and its partners will be happy to expand them out further as required.
Carson Semi Charger Site
These Bakersfield developments – both the private Frito-Lay site and the large public Kelton Way hub will help lay out the necssary infrastructure for the Tesla Semi, much like the early days of Tesla’s Superchargers. Since Semi cannot be charged at a Supercharger site (the MCS plug is notably different than NACS), these sites are a must-have.
Tesla's first publicly accessible Semi Charger site planned near the Port of Long Beach in Carson, California, was one of the first signs of these types of Semi Charger facilities being established - and like Kelton Way, it also includes amenities for truck drivers. Tesla is also considering what long, medium, and short-haul truckers need for their stays at these sites.
As Tesla works to ramp up production of the Semi itself, the parallel expansion of dedicated, high-power charging infrastructure by both Tesla and its key partners are essential to making electric heavy-duty trucking a reality.
![Tesla’s Hollywood Diner: In-Car Controls & Theater Screens Turned On [VIDEO]](https://www.notateslaapp.com/img/containers/article_images/2025/tesla-diner.webp/3aaa2ea0edf2eaa0fabe1217530f3476/tesla-diner.jpg)
