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First Tesla Cybertruck Rolls Off The Line In Texas

Following an eventful debut back in November 2019, the unusual Tesla Cybertruck has been subject to various production delays that have pushed the official launch date back to mid-2023. Now, production of the all-electric Cybertruck has finally begun in Texas.

In a post to social media, Tesla shows off the first-ever Tesla Cybertruck to roll of the assembly line at the Tesla Giga Texas factory. In the photo, the all-electric pickup is surrounded by the factory workers that helped assemble it, almost obscuring the Cybertruck from view.

Rear-three-quarter photo of Tesla Cybertruck.

For reference, the Tesla Cybertruck was initially scheduled to commence production sometime during the late 2021 calendar year. However, Tesla CEO Elon Musk later delayed production of the vehicle to late 2022, then early 2023, and finally mid-2023. The unusually shaped pickup debuted with a tri-motor powertrain, enabling it to accelerate from zero to 60 mph in as little as a Tesla-claimed 2.9 seconds. The Cybertruck’s largest battery pack is capable of an estimated 500 miles of range.

It’s worth noting that Tesla upped the starting MSRP of the all-electric pickup over the sub-$40,000 mark back in August 2022.

In regard to General Motors competition, the Cybertruck will be positioned to compete with the Chevy Silverado EV, GMC Sierra EV, and GMC Hummer EV Pickup. As of the time of this writing, Tesla holds the largest market share when it comes to electric vehicles, but a study suggests that both GM and Ford will command a larger market share than Musk’s company in the near future. In fact, experts predict that the electric pickups offered by both The General and Ford will serve to bolster their respective shares, eating into Tesla’s 70 percent market share.

With all this mind, this announcement comes at an interesting time, as the 2024 Chevy Silverado EV just began production itself in June 2023.

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Comments

  1. This thing needs a mid cycle refresh and it’s not even out yet.

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    1. Ha…..

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  2. It reminds me of the “dragon” vehicle in the first James Bond movie – Dr No.

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  3. Tesla lost the electric truck war. Ford has over a year of sales, and GM just began building the Silverado EV. Both will outsell the Cybertruck ten to one or better

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    1. Ultimately will just come down to who has the battery supplies and who can crank out vehicles faster.

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      1. Tesla certainly won’t have an issue with the batteries since Elon Musk has a plant that makes their own batteries, this may give Tesla the advantage to eventually catch up a pass by gm and Ford overtime. The RAM Revolution in my opinion might as well ride the bench, they’re waiting way too long to bring that truck into the production phase.

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        1. GM also has a factory that makes their own batteries. And another about to come online. And another next year. And another the year after that. And long term component contracts. And investments in mines with exclusive rights to output.

          It’s taking a while to ramp up, but GM is playing the long game.

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          1. @Matthew William Berg
            Not to be that guy but do you mean the GM Battery Factories they keep shutting down due to lack of materials?
            Nobody can touch Tesla but I am very happy that GM has a real chance to get second place volume wise next to Tesla…..well depending on how many markets BYD is allowed in.
            From the Legacy Brands I believe that GM is ahead of them all but just need to scale things up.
            GM needs to once and for all figure out what is causing their issues at their plants from keeping them to scale up their coveted BEV offerings.

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            1. I mean the one battery factory that’s still ramping up and had one partial closure to validate an air quality system, and the three others that haven’t opened yet, so obviously haven’t been shut down.

              A slow start on a new battery design in a new facility is not unexpected. Tesla announced the 4680 batteries back in 2020, which were supposed to be used in the Cybertruck when it was slated to be launched in 2021.

              Fast forward to 2023 and the most recent production data from Tesla, back in December, is that they were finally producing enough to product 1,000 Model Y’s a week. We don’t know just how big the battery in the Cybertruck will be, but it seems unlikely they’re ready for volume production out of the gate (even with them switching to CATL sourced batteries in Canada, likely to divert supppy for the CY and US MYs, where domestic production preserves their tax credit eligibility).

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    2. From a positive prospective though I won’t buy one, Tesla had the chance to dominate the EV Truck market if they weren’t so behind with the production schedule for this model.

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    3. I respectfully disagree. People buying the cyber truck are not going to be typical truck people. It will also come down to price. Tesla has stated the original starting price won’t happen, but they have so much margin built into these I would be willing to bet the can undercut both Ford and GM on pricing. This time next year i am willing to bet that cyber truck will be on top of EV truck sales.

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      1. On what are you basing the assumption of “so much margin” on a new, unconventional design using new manufacturing technology with no announced specs or pricing that Elon has said will be difficult to manufacture affordably?

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        1. Tesla already has the best margins in the business. They announced back in January that cyber truck will use their new giga castings and new 48v architecture which reduces the total number of parts and significantly reduces their cost.

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          1. This idea that Tesla’s gross margins are some fixed thing, as if it were a cosmological constant, is just plain silly. They are just as vulnerable to increases in material costs as any other auto maker (as well as supply costs, as they are also relying on third party suppliers rather than vertical integration, especially in China).

            They have also enjoyed the advantage of being the only real game in town in the North American market, reaching a peak EV marketshare of 89% in the fourth quarter of 2019, down below 60% in the most recent quarter. They also peaked at 20% of the EU market, now down to about 7%. And while they have managed to keep deliveries up in China with a series of price cuts, they continue to lose ground to BYD, with their market share dropping below 10% there as well.

            Add in launching a new vehicle which requires different tool and processing and is build around a battery type they’re only just getting the handle of producing after two years (but with significantly lower energy density than originally predicted) it seems likely Tesla will continue to need to reduce margins in order to be competitive with the increasing number of options available to consumers.

            (I worked at a company that had enjoyed double digit margins for years. It took about two months of a price war with two far smaller competitors to shrink that to low single digits. It wasn’t pretty.)

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      2. Steve, you are correct. Plus the fact that GM can’t scale AT ALL (GM has produced 857 HUMMER EVs since November 2021 – identical platform as upcoming Silverado EV), the Rivian R1T is still limited in scale and way too pricey for a Colorado-sized truck, while nobody wants the half-a$$ed Lightening, the CT will dominate EV truck sales in 2024 while slowly ramping. And it won’t even be close. Within 2 years it will be outselling the Tundra and closing in on the Taco and Sierra. Most truck owners now are ‘lifestyle’ vs ‘tradies’ and the CT provides the utility they want (Home depot runs, mountain bikes). Not too many traditional truck buyers will flock to it, nor will they have interest in the upcoming Silverado EV.

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        1. The Hummer has been plagued by parts shortages and production issues. As is typical with GM, low production volume halo vehicles are introduced first to work out the “kinks” before the mainstream versions are launched. I would bet Silverado EV WT launch will go smoother, but it’s still going to be lower in volume. The RST version is priced like the Hummer, so it’s also going to be lower volume.

          People that buy the cyber truck will buy it because it’s a Tesla. I would bet the majority of Cyber Truck buyers never use them as trucks. As far as Cyber Truck closing in on ICE trucks sales, you may be drinking too much of the Tesla cool-aid. I do think it will be the #1 selling EV truck, but that is really a new segment in the market. Defining market segments is what Tesla excels at.

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          1. Steve, I would say the majority of truck owners don’t use them as trucks (myself included) – hence ever increasing Maverick sales. I have a lifted 2020 Diesel ZR2 that I used to tow a trailer once – its a capable toy, but a great off-roader and mountain bike hauler in Utah. As far as CT sales potential – the Austin produced Model Y is currently at an annual run rate of 250k – the factory opened in April 2022. I would guess low volume (2-3k) CT production for Q3/4 2023 with 2024 slowly ramping to 10-30k and by 2025 they will be producing just over 100k annually, which is roughly what Tundra sales are. The limiting factor will be the ramp of a novel design and material along with 48v architecture and possible associated parts constraints – not batteries (2170’s are excellent and quite available from within and Panasonic). I also feel GM is back where Tesla was with the initial Model 3 in production hell and have yet to hit their stride. Only worse because they wanted to introduce too many models at once before perfecting one. I wouldn’t underestimate Tesla’s ability to ramp up gigacasting based vehicles – the Model Y arrived in March 2020 and is now the best selling vehicle in the world regardless of segments. Obviously, the CT will be coming from 1 vs 4 factories, and is not expected to reach 1M+ annually like the Y, but given the size of giga-Austin they could hit 250k+ annually by 2026, many to be exported to both LHD and RHD countries.

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          2. The majority of CT buyers will be the “look at me” crowd & have no use for a truck. As far as outselling ICE trucks, that is laughable.

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            1. Let’s revisit this post in 2025 and see who’s post ages better.

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            2. So the majority of people buying a truck they don’t need for 70-80k right now aren’t the look at me crowd?

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            3. @Sierra
              I doubt Cybertruck will sell in the volume that Ford and GM sell their full size trucks. But lets also not forget that GM and Ford has multiple tiers of pickup Trucks. Like 2500 and higher.
              I will be very curious to see the Cybertruck volume say in the entire year of 2025 compared to the Ford F-150 and GM 1500 trucks. That would be the comparison.

              Lets not forget that the Tesla Model Y is on pace to outsell the Toyota Corolla as the Worlds best selling vehicle. If I was Toyota (being that they are soooooo anti BEV) I would be selling the Corollas around the world at insane loses to make sure I retain that Spot.
              If Toyota loses their so called Crown to Tesla which is like twice the amount of money that would be such a HUGE disgrace and embarrassment to them and their idiotic leadership. Heads would most likely roll if that were to happen.

              Now if I am Tesla I might do the same to do my best and overtake the Corolla. It will be more important to Tesla than Toyota just retaining their Number one spot with the Corolla.

              Imagine Tesla being able to shout to the entire automotive World that we have the best selling vehicle on the Globe and it is twice the amount of money to buy that the Corolla…..Just imagine what we will do with our upcoming smaller and cheaper vehicle. Pure Insanity.
              Everyone laughed at me when I used to say Tesla is on pace to Dominate an d GM better step up!!!

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    4. While it’s true Ford has beat Tesla in coming out with a truck, the Chevy Bolt also beat the Model 3. Now the Bolt is gone and the Model 3 is a major success. The first is not always the best.

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  4. The annual sales does not matter to Tesla as much as transitioning the segment to BEV’s,,,,if you believe in their stated company mission.
    Having stated all that, they will sell as many as they can produce. I said that the minute I saw this and still stand by that statement. I am very curious to see the final Production specs on the Cybertruck.

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  5. Supposedly first production truck off the line and still no updates on prices, specs, or trims.

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    1. @rEVolutiomary
      Tesla typically (not always though) provides all the final specs when they do a special Delivery gathering.
      Not gonna lie I am very intrigued to see the specs. Are they ahead of GM or not.
      If they are ahead of GM by how much and will GM be able to close that Gap quickly.

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  6. No thanks , I’ll keep rolling along in my diesel powered 3/4 ton Chevrolet Silverado p/u .

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  7. That thing makes the Aztec look good. Only people who are Tesla diehards or must have the newest “look at me” toy will be purchasing.

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    1. @JT
      I know of three people who not only are not Tesla fans but are borderline skeptical that the Industry can go full BEV’s even well into the future that have placed an order for the Cybertruck and they cannot wait to get their hand son it. This vehicle will break car segment boundaries

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      1. So those three people fall into the category I referenced as needing to have the newest look at me toy.

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        1. @TJ
          Well one maybe so (not sure to be fair) but the other two are in the trades and cannot wait to get them to see how they operate for their business needs. If all goes well, they will start replacing their small fleets with Cybertrucks.

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  8. Extremely ugly.

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    1. Turbo diesel forever!

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  9. No thanks, reminds me of a Pontiac Aztec. Almost hurts to look at it.

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  10. A real stinker

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  11. Looks hideous!!! The design budget must have been a dollar!

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  12. I’m sure this Tesla truck will be quick and able to haul ass, but it’ll be hauling the ugliest ass ever! This thing will have to sneak up on a charging station in the dark of night to charge itself! One “Butt Ugly” vehicle, however, sometimes it pays to be different, only this time, the new owners will pay dearly to be weirdly different. I’m not sold this time, sorry Elon. Day-Am!

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  13. I have had one of these for years, it keeps my door open at home! sorry but this thing is ugly!

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  14. It looks like a house on wheels.

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  15. Is there any more conservative group than pickup buyers? Ford went to great lengths to keep the Lightning looking like any other F-Series unit. Now along comes the truck from Mars. Will be very interesting to see if the sales keep up with the hype.

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    1. @Jay S
      That I agree with. Will the Cybertruck sell well but only early on or will this be revolutionary in the Truck segment.
      Cybertruck intrigued me from the second I saw it on the Live reveal.

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  16. Sucker is born every minute. Ugly P.O.S..

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  17. Ford & Rivian has lot more affordable and fuel efficient pickup. GMs Hummer EV has a very low sales volume of 65 units in last 6 months.
    Silverado/Sierra built on the same platform weighing 8,500 lbs will be another monster with low sales volume.

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  18. COYOTE UGLY ! ! !

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  19. Ford reduced price of Lightning by $10,000 immediately after Tesla announced production start of Cybertruck. GMs truck (Hummer/Silverado/Sierra) with their 8,500 lb + weight is of no match for Lightning/R1T/Cybertruck.

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  20. I never knew my first grade drawing would be a production vehicle.

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  21. Costs will matter. An EV price war has begun with Ford cutting Lightning prices $9K. Bye, bye to any profit. Not betting on Ford or GM to lead……they have the albatross UAW costs hanging around their necks.
    There will be casualties and cash will be king.

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  22. This is simply the ugliest vehicle every produced!
    In general I personally find The entire Tesla line of vehicles homely, however this thing is ridiculously ugly. I would not take it if you gave it to me for free.
    I swear the design teem at Tesla must smoke weed all day to come up with this kindergartners rendering of a cartoon truck!

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    1. Personally I agree with you 100%.

      There are people out there however that will buy it for all the reasons you just stated just to be different. How many is the key question.

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  23. Looking forward to seeing who buys it and how they’re used.

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