Tesla · 2023–present

Tesla Cybertruck

The Tesla Cybertruck is a battery-electric full-size pickup truck manufactured by Tesla, Inc. since 2023. It was presented as a prototype concept in November 2019, with an angular design composed of flat, unpainted stainless steel body panels, drawing comparisons to low-polygon computer models. While scheduled for production in late 2021, the vehicle had multiple delays before entering limited production at Gigafactory Texas in 2023, with customer deliveries beginning in November 2023. As of 2026, two variants are available: a tri-motor all-wheel drive (AWD) model marketed as the "Cyberbeast" with an EPA range of 320 miles (515 km) and a dual-motor AWD model with a range of 350 miles (565 km). As of 2026, the Cybertruck is marketed in the United States, Mexico, Canada, South Korea, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia. The Cybertruck has been extensively criticized for its production quality issues, unusual appearance, and safety problems. In response to its disappointing sales, multiple news publications have described it as an "automotive flop".

Text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).

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History

=== Background === Tesla CEO Elon Musk's presented his ideas in 2012, envisioning building a "Tesla supertruck with crazy torque, dynamic air suspension, and corners like it's on rails" with load-compensating suspensions comparable to a Ford F-250. In early 2014 Musk predicted 4–5 years before work could start on the product. In a 2015 interview with CNN, Musk said the Tesla pickup would be the equivalent of a Ford F-150. In mid-2016, the outline for a consumer pickup truck was included in part 2 of the Tesla Master Plan. Musk suggested that the same chassis could be used for a van and a pickup truck. In late 2017, Musk teased the picture of a "pickup truck that can carry a pickup truck" at the official reveal for the Tesla Semi and the new Roadster. In late 2018, Musk anticipated that a prototype would be ready to show in 2019. In March 2019, following the Tesla Model Y launch, Musk distributed a teaser image of a vehicle described as having a cyberpunk or Blade Runner style, resembling a futuristic armored personnel carrier. It was rumored to be named the Model B. In November 2019, Tesla filed for a trademark on "Cybrtrk", which was granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office but was abandoned in August 2020. In mid-2019, the towing capacity of the vehicle was stated to meet or exceed that of a Ford F-150. In June 2019, Musk noted that an amphibious vehicle design concept based partly on Wet Nellie, the submarine car from the 1977 film The Spy Who Loved Me was possible. In July 2019, regarding a release date, Musk stated "We're close, but the magic is in the final details. Maybe 2 to 3 months", indicating late 2019. The unveiling was then scheduled for November 21, 2019 at the Tesla Design Studio, next to the SpaceX headquarters in Los Angeles. The truck

Design

=== Inspiration and styling === According to Musk, the design of the Cybertruck was inspired by Blade Runner and "Wet Nellie", the Lotus Esprit driven by James Bond in The Spy Who Loved Me, which doubled as a submarine. In a Musk biography by Walter Isaacson, Musk's son Saxon was quoted as asking, "Why doesn't the future look like the future?", which Musk used as an inspiration for the design and repeated during the delivery event. Lars Moravy confirmed Musk's involvement: "Elon threw in that it had to drive like a sports car but have all the utility of a pick-up truck... basically, we were sweating bullets". Franz von Holzhausen stated the design process "started [by] unpacking existing pick-up trucks and realis[ing] that the market hasn't changed at all. [...] Like Gandini, we wanted to do something dramatic that changed everything. I had this simple idea right in the beginning: this exoskeleton idea, a low-resolution-looking type of truck. And out of that side project, we made a full-size clay model to show Elon. And he's like, 'that's what we're doing.'" Automotive designer Frank Stephenson was critical of the Cybertruck, calling it "almost repulsive" but tempered his criticism by noting it "has the potential to be extremely beautiful" by softening the hard lines. Fellow designer Adrian Clarke was more unsparing: "The Cybertruck is a low polygon joke that only exists in the fever dreams of Tesla fans that stands high on the smell of Elon Musk's flatulences." Giorgetto Giugiaro, credited with originating the "origami" car design trend with the Lotus Esprit, BMW M1, and DeLorean, stated in 2023 that "when you step outside the norms, it's almost always seen as a provocation [...] the Cybertruck will surely be successful [...] I'm convinced it will find its admirers".

Reception

The Cybertruck has been criticized for its poor build quality, malfunctions, safety problems, and price hikes following reservations. Conversely, in 2024, Car and Driver magazine gave the Cybertruck a score of 8.5 out of 10, saying that "The buzz-worthy Cybertruck leads with show-pony party tricks and high-tech features, but it's also a capable workhorse with a practical side." CleanTechnica also gave Cybertruck a positive review, calling it "an engineering and technical marvel, a joy to drive". Motor Trend shortlisted it for the magazine's 2025 Truck of the Year, praising its steer-by-wire system and other tech, but criticizing "the design's many compromises". The Cybertruck's design has been described as "post-apocalyptic" and "dystopian", and its marketing as a reflection of perceived societal decay within America. The vehicle's many detractors have given it derogatory names and have associated it with the politics of Elon Musk. The Cybertruck's stainless steel finish was found to be prone to surface contamination and surface rust, which requires special care, such as drying after rain and avoiding washing the vehicle in direct sunlight. Sales. As of June 2024, a total of 11,688 Tesla Cybertrucks had been sold, making it the top-selling electric pickup truck in the United States during the first half of the year. By October 2024, industry estimates placed cumulative sales at approximately 27,185. However, by November 2024, sales numbers were reported to be lower than initially anticipated, prompting a price reduction. According to Kelley Blue Book, total sales for 2024 were estimated at 38,965, making it the best-selling electric pickup truck in the United States. A recall stated that 46,096 vehicles had been produced prior to February 27, 2025. In Q1 2025, sales of

Safety concerns

In the first year after its release, the Cybertruck had 26 complaints, two investigations, and seven separate recalls, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA): The Cybertruck's angular design and stiff stainless-steel exterior raised concerns among safety experts that it could hurt pedestrians and cyclists and damage other vehicles on roads. Particular concerns were raised about the high stiffness of the "exoskeleton" exterior, potentially reducing crumple zones. The tall, flat front of the truck may increase the severity of injuries to the legs of pedestrians. Vehicle design experts speculated that it would fail to pass safety testing in various countries, including Australia, due to the risk it poses to both occupants and people outside of the vehicle, especially pedestrians. As of 2025, the Cybertruck is not allowed on roads in the United Kingdom due to safety concerns, and does not meet European Union pedestrian safety standards as a type, although registrations may be individually accepted. Tesla defended the design, saying that the structures of the Cybertruck would absorb an impact during a crash, and pointing out that it passed a U.S. regulatory review, although they also admitted that it would be very hard to meet European Union pedestrian safety laws. Cybertruck doors are only electrically operated, so in case of accident or malfunction it may lock occupants inside, preventing others from saving the occupants. This is made worse because the windows are intentionally designed to be shatter proof and smash resistant. On August 5, 2024, Michael Sheehan was burned to death in a Cybertruck following a fire which reached temperatures of 5,000 °F (2,800 °C) caused by thermal runaway of its battery, following a collision in Baytown, Te

Sections adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0); text is shortened. Read the full article for the complete history and citations.

Specifications

name

Tesla Cybertruck

Manufacturer

Tesla, Inc.

Production

November 2023 – present

Model years

N/A

Assembly

United States: Austin, Texas (Gigafactory Texas)

Designer

Franz von Holzhausen

Class

Full-size pickup truck

Body style

4-door crew cab

Layout

Rear motor, rear-wheel drive, Dual- or tri-motor, all-wheel drive

Transmission

Single-speed fixed (15:1 ratio)

Electric range

301–362 mi EPA est.

Wheelbase

143.11 in

Length

223.74 in

Width

79.99 in

Height

70.7 in

Kerb weight

AWD: 6660 lb

sp

us

Charging

AC onboard charger:, 3 11.5 kW at 240 V, 48 A, DC:, 3 ≤250 kW at 400 V, 3 ≤350 kW at 800 V, NACS connector

Battery

123 lithium-ion (816 V, 150 Ah)

Specification summary from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Measured facts from Wikidata (CC0). Check the linked sources for citations.

More photos

US EPA fuel-economy records

US EPA test figures (US MPG, US test cycle).

Sources

• Wikidata — https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q66311587CC0 1.0 · retrieved 2026-10-01
• Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tesla_CybertruckCC BY-SA 4.0 · Text © Wikipedia contributors; revision 1377053832 · retrieved 2026-10-01
• Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:2024_Tesla_Cybertruck_Foundation_Series_IMG_0620.jpgCC BY-SA 4.0 · Photo: Alexander-93 · retrieved 2026-10-01
• Manufacturer website (link only) — https://www.tesla.com/fr_ca/cybertruckLink only; no content copied · retrieved 2026-10-01
• Car Model Index — https://models.autoculturesociety.com/Compiled record. Sources that do not permit reuse are not copied; this index is credited instead.

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