Tesla's lead engineer for the Cybertruck, Wes Morrill, took to X with a candid message that encapsulates the company’s stance on attempts to flip the Cybertruck for profit: "FAFO - we build vehicles for people who love and enjoy them, not to flip for profit without adding any value." If you don’t know the acronym, please do a quick search!
FAFO - we build vehicles for people who love and enjoy them. Not to flip for profit without adding any value. This shouldn't need to be said or enforced https://t.co/hNsNpLTirt
Tesla's anti-flipping policy got some attention after a Cybertruck owner listed their vehicle for sale on multiple websites. The owner shared the experience on the Cybertruck Owners Club forum. The owner was contacted by the local Tesla store leader, who issued the cancellation of their additional Cybertruck reservations. This action was accompanied by a clear message: any future attempts to order a Cybertruck—or possibly any other Tesla vehicle—would be denied, with reservation and order fees forfeited.
Setting the Record Straight
In a series of social media exchanges, the conversation around Tesla's policy against reselling the Cybertruck within the first year of purchase had Morrill's attention. He further elaborated on the policy, stating that if an owner must sell the Cybertruck within the first year due to unforeseen circumstances, Tesla may consider making an exception to its no-resale clause. However, this would require the owner to notify Tesla in writing and allow the company the opportunity to repurchase the vehicle, considering mileage, wear and tear, and the cost to repair the vehicle to Tesla's standards.
The debate over Tesla's approach intensified with comments arguing owners should be free to do as they wish with their property. Morrill countered these arguments: This strawman argument is not the purpose of the no-resale clause.
Convenient Timing
By prioritizing genuine enthusiasts over opportunistic sellers, Tesla aims to maintain the integrity of its brand and the unique ownership experience it offers. However, that does not explain the celebrities who got a Cybertruck within the first couple of months of delivery. Does anyone really believe that Kim Kardashian was waiting at her computer for the Cybertruck reservations to open? She is one of several celebrities who could have only gotten the Cybertruck one way: by buying it from someone else—AKA someone who is flipping.
Now that the Cybertruck is reaching more people, the flipping policy is being enforced. We still don’t know what happened to the owner of a Cybertruck that was auctioned off and then listed for $300,000 at a Porsche dealership. The policy was announced long before Cybertruck hit the roads, and it should be enforced for everybody, A-list or not. If it’s not enforced equally, then let capitalism do its thing.
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Tesla has begun to reach out to customers in the United States and is offering demo drives of the Cybertruck on an invite-only basis. @brandonhd on X shared the first invite image, and it looks like it's going out quite quickly to multiple locations that have Cybertrucks on display.
Up until now, display vehicles have been for just that – looking, but no touching. Some Tesla delivery centers and showrooms have also allowed viewers to take a seat inside and open it up, but most are still locked away behind the velvet rope.
It’s exciting to see that Tesla has begun to demo them – and it can only be so long until demo drives open up to everyone.
Advisor-led Demo
This Demo Drive is led by a Tesla Advisor – while you’re driving, the advisor will be in the passenger seat, walking you through the experience. They’ll explain steer-by-wire, off-road controls, and will introduce new-to-Tesla buyers to all the features that are currently available.
The list of locations so far for demo drives appears to be fairly limited, but we will hopefully see demo drives roll out throughout the United States, and eventually Canada too. Here is the current list of city/state locations that have seen demo drive invites.
Actually Smart Summon, the successor to Tesla’s Smart Summon feature, has been confirmed to be coming as soon as next month as per Elon Musk. Colloquially known as “ASS”, Actually Smart Summon is supposed to improve on the regular Smart Summon capabilities, which have historically used ultrasonic sensors (USS) to navigate parking lots.
We’re looking forward to Actually Smart Summon, and we’re quite excited about what other features will be unlocked once it finally shows up at our doorstep.
Vision-based Improvements
ASS is supposed to bring Smart Summon to vehicles that don’t have USS – using Tesla Vision. Most recently, Tesla has brought Autopark to vehicles without USS, and Vision-based Autopark has been a huge success. It is faster, more reliable, and smoother than the older USS-based solution. It can also park and maneuver in tighter locations.
Today, Smart Summon is sometimes useful at best, usually a party trick, or downright dangerous at worst. It’s excellent and best used in straight lines, where you have a clear line of sight of the vehicle, and can stop it if doesn’t see an obstacle.
I used Smart Summon today, just before writing this article – my 2022 Model Y (with USS) – did manage to show up just fine – in a straight-line location from where I was parked, after exiting the parking spot fairly cleanly. However, I’ve previously used Smart Summon and have had the vehicle turn towards obstacles, such as cart returns or curbs. Overall, it’s a sometimes-useful feature that has a lot of drawbacks right now.
Smart Summon is also restricted to a certain distance – and it's pretty small. The max distance is shorter than most parking lots, being only about 215 ft (65m). If you’re lucky enough to park close, it's very useful to bring your car right to you.
Actually Smart Summon
ASS will bring FSD V12-like capabilities to Smart Summon – the vehicle will primarily use Vision to drive toward you (or the location you’ve indicated). ASS has been supposed to be coming since about September 2022 and has seen many delays – we’re almost at the 2-year point today.
We’re looking forward to Actually Smart Summon being able to bring the vehicle – safely – right to you. ASS is also one of the key steps towards bringing some other cool features that Elon Musk has previously mentioned – Park Seek and Banish Autopark.
We’re also hopeful that Actually Smart Summon will increase the maximum range a vehicle can be summoned, because the current range is fairly small. Alongside Park Seek and Banish Autopark, we’re closing in on a Robotaxi-based future.
Park Seek and Banish Autopark
When the FSD v12.4 showed up, Elon also mentioned that going forward, vehicles would automatically park themselves when arriving in a parking lot – Park Seek – and that if you got out of the car at the entrance to a business, you could get it to automatically park itself in the parking lot – Banish Autopark. These are two features that are needed for Robotaxi to work – which itself is delayed to October 10th of this year. We’re looking quite forward to them – as in combination with Actually Smart Summon, Tesla has reached the cusp of vehicle autonomy.
A vehicle that arrives, driverless, at the location you’re at, then drives somewhere, parks itself there, and waits for you – is the definition of a Robotaxi.
While we’re likely to have to wait for Banish Autopark and Park Seek just a bit longer, Actually Smart Summon being around the corner is exciting! Gone will be the days of having to run out to your car when you forgot your umbrella – your car will just come right to you instead.
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