Tesla Truck Release Date: When Cybertruck Is Coming & What To Expect
Tesla’s Cybertruck is unlike any other production vehicle currently available. When Elon Musk unveiled it at an event in November 2019, it set tongues wagging as much for its bold design as for its impressive specs. As Tesla puts it, the all-electric Cybertruck ‘is designed to have the utility of a truck and the performance of a sports car.’
Tesla, of course, is no stranger to developing disruptive technologies. Its electric cars set the standard for quality and range, its Solar Roof simply completely replaces a home’s roof with solar technology, and its Powerwall is aimed at changing how we power our homes by storing energy and reducing reliance on the grid. These products are all designed to integrate their innovations elegantly into users’ lives, though, whereas the Cybertruck takes a more brute-force approach.
Related: The Tesla Cybertruck Will Finally Launch In 2023 — If We’re Lucky
As striking as the Cybertruck is, the vehicle’s release date has been a point of contention since that original announcement in 2019. As it stands today, the Cybertruck still hasn’t been released. Even though we’re quickly nearing three years since the unveiling, the Cybertruck is no closer to launching than it was back then. Tesla is currently touting a 2023 release date for the Cybertruck, and while we hope that’s true, the last couple of years suggest further delays may be in the pipeline.
Tesla Cybertruck 2021 Updates
Tesla’s original goal for the Cybertruck was to begin production in 2021. However, that promise quickly came and went. As early as December 2020, Tesla sent emails to customers with Cybertruck reservations warning that their vehicles may not be delivered until 2022. And things only got worse from there. When asked about the Cybertruck on Twitter on April 15, Elon Musk ignored the question entirely and instead offered an update on Model Y production.
Just about a month later, things looked hopeful again when Tesla texted some customers to confirm that Cybertruck production would “start in late 2021.” But then fast forward to August, and Tesla updated its website to state that production would begin in 2022. Tesla formally confirmed the delay that October during a shareholder meeting, announcing that the Cybertruck production was, in fact, pushed to 2022 due to the ongoing chip shortage.
Tesla Cybertruck 2022 Updates
But the updates don’t stop there. In January 2022, an update to the Cybertruck page on Tesla’s website quietly removed any mention of the 2022 production date. Just a few days later during another earnings report, Musk confirmed Tesla wouldn’t be releasing any new cars in 2022 — including the Cybertruck.
Related: Yep, Tesla Now Has A $50 Cybertruck Whistle You Can Buy
Most recently, Musk provided another update on Cybertruck production during Tesla’s ‘Cyber Rodeo’ event. More specifically, Musk says that Cybertruck production and sales will begin in 2023. There’s no specific time frame in 2023 to look forward to, but some point during that year should see the Cybertruck finally go on sale.
Tesla Cybertruck Specs
The wedge-like, cyberpunk-esque aesthetic is not for everyone, but the vehicle is ostensibly designed for utility above all else. With that in mind, the body, or exoskeleton as Tesla likes to say, is formed of ultra-hard 30x cold-rolled stainless steel intended to eliminate dents, damage, and long-term corrosion — as well as to protect people inside. Ultra-strong glass and polymer-layered composite, meanwhile, will provide protective windows.
Depending on the model — Single Motor Rear-Wheel Drive, Dual Motor All-Wheel Drive, and Tri Motor All-Wheel Drive — the Cybertruck is said to do 0-60 mph in as little as 2.9 seconds or less and have a range of as much as 500 miles. Tesla also promises that it will carry up to 3,500 lbs of load, has 100 cubic feet of exterior, lockable storage, and can tow up to 14,000 lbs and more. Additional features like Autopilot and adjustable air suspension come as standard.
At least, that’s what we think the Cybertruck’s specs will be capable of. Tesla removed almost all of the Cybertruck’s exact specifications from its website in October 2021. Combined with how often Tesla production plans change, its impossible to guarantee what the vehicle will be capable of until it’s actually shipping to customers.
Should You Pre-Order A Cybertruck?
Considering all the above, deciding whether or not to pre-order a Cybertruck is a tricky question to answer. Tesla is still accepting $100 reservations on its website, with that $100 deposit being full refundable. If you’re OK parting with $100 to secure a spot in line to get the Tesla Cybertruck next year, it’s not a bad option to consider. But if you’d rather not put money down on a vehicle that could very well be delayed until 2024 (or later), it’s best to keep waiting from the sidelines to see what happens next.