Tesla Cybertruck design finalized; to enter production mid-2023: Elon Musk [Video]

By Gabe Rodriguez Morrison
Tesla Cybertruck
ksbw.com

In an interview with Tesla Owners Silicon Valley, Tesla CEO Elon Musk revealed that the Cybertruck design has now been finalized. Musk didn’t get into details about the design, but gave a rough timeline for production of the Cybertruck.

With the design now "locked", he estimates production will begin “the middle of next year, roughly 12-months’ish” which would put the first Cybertruck deliveries in the second half of 2023.

Musk did not say when the final design will be revealed, but recent sightings of the alpha builds give us many hints as to what to expect.

When discussing the Cybertruck design Elon said they “got too carried with the…,” before pausing, hinting that they have added a number of new features not included on the original prototype.

While it's not clear what additional features Elon was about to mention, we have an idea of what is to come.

One of the most controversial additions has been the side mirrors, which are required by law, although Musk has said that they will be easily removable by owners.

Another controversial feature of the Cybertruck is the windshield wiper. While we have only seen the large single wiper, Musk did say that the final design would be different than what has been seen on recent builds.

Tesla did patent a laser beam windshield wiper, but we'll likely see something more traditional on the Cybertruck.

Another feature we could see on the final build are doors with no handles. At the Cyber Rodeo, Elon opened the Cybertruck door by pushing a button on the side of the truck. The doors also seemingly open and lock depending on proximity to the vehicle.

You can watch the full interview below.

Tesla Plans Diner Global Expansion; Next Location: Starbase

By Karan Singh
Not a Tesla App

Just as the first Tesla Diner opens its doors in Hollywood, Elon Musk has confirmed that this is the beginning of a larger vision for the retro-futuristic Supercharger and Diner sites. If the first location is successful, Tesla plans to roll out the Diners globally to major destinations.

The second location for a Tesla Diner has already been confirmed. Tesla will be building its second diner at Starbase, Texas - home of SpaceX. That means that this isn’t a one-off project anymore, but instead something that could become a new side business for Tesla Energy - integrating food and entertainment options at major Supercharger sites in urban cores.

An Island of Good

The future vision of the diner concept is fairly clear. Tesla plans to create fun, inviting environments around some of its biggest Superchargers, removing some of the stigma around charging an EV.

The Tesla Diner in Hollywood is already drawing a steady flow of street traffic, including non-Tesla owners, who come to try the food and enjoy the entertainment. There’s a lot to like about what Tesla is doing. Tesla is using healthier ingredients, serving food on roller skates, and even including tips with each purchase, helping alleviate the ‘tip-everything’ culture in the U.S.

That’s not to mention Tesla’s impressive integration of the Tesla Diner with its own app and the vehicles. For example, not only can you order from within your vehicle and pay with your Tesla account, but if you choose a pickup order, the diner will know when you arrive and which Supercharger stall you’re in.

With an experience like that, the Diner is becoming a tourist destination, more than just a simple charging spot. 

Starbase and Beyond

For the next expansion, Elon said ‘Ok’ to adding a location to Starbase, Texas. If you’re not familiar with Musk’s OK responses, you’ll know that’s his way of agreeing to something. However, it likely won’t just be Starbase. If the diner is successful, then Tesla will expand the diner concept globally, adding them to major cities.

This is the Tesla way of advertising. Instead of traditional advertising that yields a low return, Tesla invests its money in ways that improve the Tesla ownership experience, while also helping to spread the word. The same can be said about adding games or ambient light features to Tesla vehicles. Tesla spends time developing features that will get people talking about the company and its cars.

Thousands of space enthusiasts travel to Cyber Beach and the surrounding areas of Starbase to witness SpaceX launches every year, making it an easy decision to capitalize on this opportunity.

With the Hollywood location now finally open, its success will be the determining factor for the pace at which Tesla builds additional Drive-In Diners. But with the next location already planned, it’s clear this is more than just a small side quest now - it’ll be about turning some Supercharger sites into a one-of-a-kind experience around the world, letting many experience Tesla for the first time.

Two New Tesla Semi Pilot Programs: Feedback & Efficiency

By Karan Singh
thyssenkrupp Supply Chain Services

In a real-world validation win for Semi, Tesla has seen two major companies, ArcBest and “thyssenkrupp Supply Chain Services,” complete extensive, multi-week pilot programs for the Tesla Semi.

The results were overwhelmingly positive as these companies used the Semi for thousands of miles over challenging terrain.

ArcBest Conquers Donner Pass

Logistics company ArcBest announced that it has completed a three-week pilot program with the Tesla Semi. Over that period, the truck logged an impressive 4,494 miles, averaging 321 miles per day. The pilot also showed off a remarkable energy efficiency of just 1.55 kWh per mile, a figure confirmed by Tesla Semi Program Head, Dan W. Priestley. For comparison, a Model 3, Tesla’s most efficient vehicle, uses approximately 0.250 kWh per mile, making the Semi use roughly six times more energy.

Most importantly, the vehicle was tested in difficult, real-world trucking conditions, successfully navigating the 7,200-foot climb over Donner Pass. Arcbest stated that Semi “generally matched the performance of its diesel counterparts”. The company also noted that driver feedback was overwhelmingly positive. Operators highlighted Semi’s comfort, safety, and ease of use. There was a lot of specific praise for the center seat configuration, wide field of visibility, and intuitive controls, which made it an enjoyable experience.

Thyssenkrupp Calls Semi a “Natural Fit”

In a separate but related announcement, thyssenkrupp Supply Chain Services also revealed that it had recently completed a successful three-week demo of the Tesla Semi at one of its logistics hubs in California. During its winter trial, the truck delivered goods for nearly 5,000 miles in a variety of conditions, which included regularly traversing the steep Altamont Pass.

The results were so positive that the company announced that plans are already underway to integrate a fleet of Tesla Semis into its operations soon. That is another huge win for the Semi Program as volume production is expected to begin by the end of 2025.

The Tesla Semi aligns with our ongoing commitment to sustainability and operational excellence. Its efficiency and diagnostic features, and low environmental impact make it a natural fit for our evolving logistics strategy.

  • Bob Denehy, Chief Commercial Officer, thyssenkrupp Supply Chain Services

A Win for Tesla

According to Dan, these partnerships are just part of Tesla’s strategy. Working with its own suppliers and logistics partners helps electrify Tesla’s own supply chain, and with lower costs and higher reliability, it just makes sense for all parties involved.

The successful completion of these two rigorous, real-world pilot programs is a sign that the Semi has proven its efficiency, reliability, and performance to many major players in the logistics industry. Next up for Semi will be volume production and sales to companies outside of Tesla’s pilot programs.

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