First Cybertruck rolls off the production line in Texas, but it may offer a shorter driving range than promised – and might never come here
The first showroom-spec Tesla Cybertruck has rolled off the production line at Giga Texas after an almost never-ending series of delays, setbacks and timeline changes for the battery-electric pick-up.
No new details were announced at the event on Saturday (July 15), but according to Twitter user Bearded Tesla, the long-awaited Cybertruck may be released with a battery pack capable of delivering 350 miles (563km) of range – much less than the 620-mile (998km) range promised when the radical new wedge-shaped EV was first revealed in prototype form almost four years ago in November 2019.
Although it’s on par with the dual-motor Rivian R1T and betters the Ford F-150 Lightning Extended Range (320 miles, 515km), a 563km range would be less than that offered by other electric pick-up rivals including the Chevrolet Silverado EV (450 miles, 724km) and the upcoming GMC Hummer 3X, which will deliver 381 miles (613km) from the 2024 model year.
First Cybertruck built at Giga Texas! ?? pic.twitter.com/ODRhHVsd0t
— Tesla (@Tesla) July 15, 2023
Back in 2019, Tesla said on its website that the Cybertruck would be available from launch with four powertrain options: Single-motor rear-wheel drive with 250 miles (402km) of range; Dual-motor all-wheel drive with 300 miles (483km) of range; Tri-motor AWD with 500 miles (804km) of range; and Quad motor AWD with 620 miles (998km) of range.
Originally touted to hit the US market in 2021, the Cybertruck has been subject to one of the most volatile production and development schedules of any new model in recent memory, along with some of the strongest demand – more than a million orders as of April 2021.
Since then Tesla CEO Eon Musk has said Cybertruck production would probably start in mid-2023 and that’s exactly what’s eventuated, however, we still don’t have any official specifications.
News of the Cybertruck’s production start was officially shared via a Twitter post showing the inaugural pick-up surrounded by the staff of Giga Texas, along with the caption ‘First Cybertruck built at Giga Texas!’. Musk subsequently retweeted the image, congratulating the team on the feat.
Odds are the electric pick-up’s specification details will come to light at the ‘Cybertruck handover event’ scheduled for around September, when the first vehicles are tipped to be presented to Tesla insiders and the US brand’s most valued customers.
Before Tesla removed all Cybertruck pricing and specs from its US website in 2021, pricing had been set at $US39,900 ($A58,650) for the base RWD variant and $US49,900 ($73,315) for the dual-motor AWD version.
Mass production of the load-lugging EV will commence in 2024 and will eventually peak at between 250,000 to 500,000 units per annum.
But there’s still been no confirmation of whether Tesla’s first pick-up will be available in Australia, where the Cybertruck landing page on Tesla’s local website continues to offer only a ‘Get Updates’ button as opposed to the previous ‘Order Now’ option.
The order tab was removed from the page in May last year, just as it was in most other major markets outside of North America. And in light of the recent bombshell that the Tesla Model S and Model X will no longer be produced in right-hand drive, we wouldn’t be surprised if the Cybertruck never makes it here.
Consumers outside of North America can obviously hold out hope, but will probably have to wait at least until the handover event for any sort of indication about the Cybertruck’s export prospects.
For everything you auto know about EVs, listen to carsales’ Watts Under the Bonnet: the electric car podcast
Join the conversation at our Facebook page Or email us at [email protected]
Keyword: Tesla Cybertruck finally enters production