Tesla's electric pickups significantly more expensive than announced
Tesla's futuristic electric pickup "Cybertruck" will be significantly more expensive than originally announced. When the first vehicles were delivered, Tesla announced that the cheapest version of the stainless steel vehicle would cost 61,000 dollars (around 56,000 euros). The most expensive version, nicknamed the "Cyberbeast", will cost 100,000 dollars.
When the "Cybertruck" was unveiled four years ago, a production start date of the end of 2021 and a price range of between 40,000 and 70,000 dollars were announced. However, teething problems delayed production several times. Tesla CEO Elon Musk said a few months ago that the company had "dug its own grave" with the model because the unusual vehicle required so many new production processes.
On Thursday, Musk personally handed over several vehicles to their owners during a livestream at the Tesla plant in Austin, Texas. Tesla is entering an extremely lucrative market segment in the USA with the Cybertruck. Pickups are among the most popular vehicles there. Last year, the Chevrolet Silverado was the best-selling model in the country; previously it was often Ford's F-Series.
Economic concerns and high interest rates
The US car giants now have their own electric pickups on offer. However, they have sold in small numbers so far. For example, GM only sold 18 Silverado EVs in the last quarter - and around 143,500 vehicles of the model with combustion and hybrid drives. Ford sold a good 3,700 all-electric F-150 Lightning in October out of a total of around 53,500 F-series pickups. Tesla rival Rivian, which only focuses on electric vehicles, has also only sold a few of its pickups so far.
The major manufacturers attribute the moderate sales figures not only to initial bottlenecks in production, but also to the current generally lower interest in the more expensive electric vehicles. Economic concerns and high interest rates are making car buyers more careful with their money.
Tesla wants to build up to 250,000 'Cybertruck' pickups per year - but is unlikely to reach this mark before 2025, Musk said recently. Only small numbers are currently being produced, while Tesla wants to deliver around 1.8 million vehicles in total. Investors were not impressed: Tesla shares fell by around two percent at times in after-hours trading.
Unusual angular shape
The "Cybertruck" - a large stainless steel triangle - looks very different from traditional pickups. This has been criticized or ridiculed by some car design experts. The unusual angular shape is due to the fact that the steel alloy specially developed for the Cybertruck is so hard that it can only be bent to a limited extent, Musk emphasized. "We have a car here that experts said was impossible, that would never be built." It is the best vehicle Tesla has ever built.
Only the market will show whether American pickup buyers want a vehicle with an unusual shape - or prefer the classic look. Musk advertised the fact that an electric drive is more powerful than combustion engines. In one video, for example, a "Cybertruck" was shown accelerating faster than a new Porsche 911 - while towing a Porsche on a trailer behind it.
Tesla's head of design Franz von Holzhausen repeated the demonstration of the strength of the "Cybertrucks" windows that went wrong four years ago. On Thursday, a steel ball thrown by him actually bounced off the window. At the time, the windows showed cracks. Tesla also previously demonstrated how the bodywork withstood bullets from a Thompson submachine gun. However, experts emphasized afterwards that the Tommy guns were designed more than 100 years ago - and that the vehicle would be more vulnerable with more modern weapons.
Despite the initial production delays and higher prices, Tesla CEO Elon Musk still sees a lucrative market opportunity with the "Cybertruck" in the USA, as pickups are among the most popular vehicles there. (Tesla, Cybertruck)
Despite its expensive price tag and unusual angular shape, the "Cybertruck" boasts a powerful electric drive and impressive durability, as demonstrated by its resistance to steel balls and bullets. (Tesla, Cybertruck, Elon Musk)
Source: www.dpa.com
