Could this be why it's been delayed for so long?
The Tesla Cybertruck will finally go into production at the end of the year, but it's been a rocky road for the electric truck. First unveiled in 2019, the angular EV has faced constant delays and problems, leading the public to question whether it will ever arrive.
But there was good reason for this, reports Wired. The pre-production “alpha” Cybertruck was reportedly mired with various issues pertaining to the braking, handling, and more, says an internal document first discovered by Germany's Handelsblatt publication.
An engineering report goes into detail about several faults and handling was one of the main concerns. The report describes “excessive mid-speed abruptness and chop,” “structural shake,” and “excessive lateral jerk during low-speed maneuvering.” The document also says problems pertaining to body roll and steering refinement had to be addressed.
As per the publication, Cybertruck's braking performance was also a concern. Braking while cornering was an issue, and the pre-production “alpha” model is said to have experienced “excessive pedal travel and inconsistent stop.” However, it's worth noting that the brake pedal pressure pad was still being designed at this stage. Tesla's engineers were hoping to achieve a score of 7 (fair) on the Society of Automotive Engineers rating scale; the pre-production vehicle achieved just 4 (poor).
Andy Palmer, the former COO of Nissan and CEO of Aston Martin, told Wired some of this is not surprising as it's a pre-production vehicle. Palmer did express surprise at the way in which the report was written. “You'd be giving the engineers that wrote this stuff a good bollocking. You don't normally write this stuff down.”
Palmer added, “The brake performance seems serious. I'm surprised they're not further forward,” he said, before adding that the brakes and chassis are one of the first things engineers normally work on.
On the ride and handling front, it seems the pre-production Cybertruck wasn’t quite up to scratch, either. During kinematics and compliance (K&C) testing, a vehicle is subjected to predetermined forces that apply pressure to the suspension and wheels. The report notes the electric truck had a “significant gap to targets.”
An area that lists solutions for these problems isn't too encouraging, either. At the front, some issues couldn't be set straight “without modifying suspension design,” while other problems reportedly didn't have a solution. The alpha Cybertruck also had issues with meeting its torsional stiffness requirements. Palmer expressed concern about this.
“What's surprising about that is it's really hard to fix … In your development, you can simulate it fairly accurately. So I'm surprised it's so far off.”
Less serious (but still important) are the leaking issues. The report claims the pre-production version had to be hand-sealed but notes that “there are a number of areas that we do not have a clear path to sealing.”
This would affect the truck's ability to keep water out and reduce cabin noise; testers found 21 possible areas where noise leaks may be taking place. The unusual shape of the Cybertruck may be to blame here, according to the report.
Tesla has had its fair share of quality issues, such as peeling yoke steering wheels on the Model S, but this is on another level. We have to remember these problems are specific to the pre-production version – as a manufacturer, Tesla has to meet certain standards, and it's safe to assume all these issues have been worked out.
It's surprising to hear about Tesla's development struggles. Then again, this is Tesla's first-ever truck, and designing a truck is different from engineering a passenger car. Brands like Ford have decades of experience, something Tesla can't hope to match just yet.
Keyword: Leaked Report Claims Pre-Production Tesla Cybertruck Was Riddled With Faults