Ford has been in the automobile and truck business for a very long time and stands as a giant in the auto industry, but the relatively new automaker Tesla has been making some serious waves. Ford has been around so long a lot of people mistakenly think Henry Ford actually invented the first automobile. Meanwhile, Tesla has been able to establish itself in a short amount of time against well-entrenched giants of the auto industry such as Ford. Tesla is attempting to take a slice of the Ford-dominated truck market with the new electric Tesla Cybertruck. While there are many excited and hailing the delayed Cybertruck it does have an uphill battle against truck veteran Ford and its own electric offering, the F-150 Lightning. Ford has had many years of knowledge and experience dominating the pickup market applying tried and true design with new innovations culminating with the F-150 Lightning. While Tesla has enjoyed somewhat of a reputation as a darling of the electric vehicle world the Cybertruck has been plagued by delays since its initial announcement back in 2019 while Ford is hoping to keep cruising as the king of trucks. Here’s why Tesla will have trouble taking on the king of pickup trucks.
1 The F-150 Lightning Is Already On Sale
One clear edge the F-150 Lightning has over the Cybertruck is its availability. The Ford Lightning debuted in 2021 and deliveries began in 2022, and is back around here for the current year. The Tesla Cybertruck, on the other hand, was first announced in 2019 but has yet to appear on a driveway near you. The Cybertruck is slated to finally be released later this year barring any further setbacks. You can go down to your local Ford dealership and most likely take a test drive in a new 2023 F-150 Lightning. There’s an old expression, “a bird in hand is worth two in the bush” and an actually available truck is much more appealing than one that may hopefully get released soon, but with Tesla’s dismal record, it’s understandable to have doubts that one will actually see Cybertrucks on the road later this year.
2 The Lightning's Classic Appeal Vs The Cybertruck's Unorthodox Design
The F-150 Lightning shares a lot of visual DNA with the regular F-150 line, with its overall look not changing too drastically over the decades. After all, why mess with a classic? Chances are if someone likes American pickup trucks or in particular Fords, which already have the predominant share of the truck market, they'll love the look of the new F-150 Lightning. It’s a no-brainer for Ford to base its new electric on an already loved model and look. Tesla is coming out of the gates with a completely radical and new design including its aesthetic look. The Cybertruck should get points for being unique and original, but perhaps a bit too original. Tesla has gotten some positive reaction and orders for the Cybertruck, but also some negative feedback for its garish looks.
3 Knowing Exactly What The Price Is
.jpg?q=50&fit=crop&w=750&dpr=1.5)
The price of the Ford F-150 Lightning is known, starting at $55,974 while the Tesla price hasn’t been finalized yet. Even though Tesla has already taken pre-orders for the Cybertruck they have not officially announced a starting price. It’s difficult to expect customers to commit to ordering a truck when they don’t know what the price is. The Cybertruck is expected to start at 50k, but it may be $60,000 or more. While there isn’t a huge disparity it’s much easier to make major financial decisions with known figures rather than unknowns especially with Tesla’s spotty track record in regard to when Cybertruck would finally ship out. All the price points and options for Ford all spelled out, and it is easy to plan for where with Tesla it’s all ‘maybes’ and estimates.
4 The Lightning's Tested Charging Times And Range
Tesla is claiming that the single-motor version of the Cybertruck will have an estimated range of 250 miles on a single charge, but a running theme with Tesla is everyone has to go by their preliminary announcements as the truck is yet to be released. The F-150 Lightning has a real-world and verified range of 230 miles on a charge on the base model. A slight however negligible advantage goes to Tesla again, a big “if” the actual release lives up to Tesla’s boastful expectations. The standard charging EV network is probably slightly larger than Tesla Supercharger exclusive networks but with adapters, both can use other charging networks. With Ford, there is plenty of third-party verified information, with Tesla it has been quiet on the battery the Cybertruck will use.
5 The Lightning Is A Workstation For The Working Man
Ford F-150s are ruggedly built to be used on job sites and the F-150 Lightning continues this legacy. The Lightning features a crew cab that can seat up to six people or haul all your equipment and gear. Sporting 10 120V outlets, two 12-volt outlets, one 240-volt outlet, eight USB ports of various types make it a versatile power supply sub-station. While the larger intent for the Lightning is to supply power for mobile job sites such as construction for power tools, including high-powered ones such as jackhammers, it can be used for more basic things like your tailgate party or mobile trailer. Elon Musk has confirmed the Cybertruck will somehow power a future planned trailer, its already known the exact wide-ranging powering capabilities of the Lightning which can even be used as a generator to power a home.
6 Cybertruck So Far Has Been Oversold
Ford has been careful not to make any announcements that they couldn’t deliver with the actual release of the F-150 Lightning while the same can’t be said of Tesla with the Cybertruck. The Cybertruck has constantly been delayed and pushed back, and the pricing remains only an estimate. On top of this Elon Musk made an embarrassing gaffe concerning the Cybertrucks supposed indestructibility. During a presentation held in Los Angeles in November 2021 that Musk personally hosted they showed off a prototype Cybertruck live on stage and to show off its indestructibility with comical results. Musk claimed that strikes from a sledgehammer would barely dent the cold rolled steel body which was demonstrated and seemed to be true, but he then claimed the windows were shatterproof and threw steel balls at the windows and both struck windows proceeded to crack and shatter.
7 Ford Has A Proven Track Record
Ford was established way back in 1903 and has been specifically dominating the truck market with the Ford-150 for the last several decades. Tesla, on the other hand, has only been around since 2003 and is brand new to the pickup truck game As of this writing still, it is yet to release the fabled Cybertruck. Ford has had years to hone a design for a truck that is rugged, versatile, and appealing having the best-selling truck, shows it has a product that the public wants. While the F-150 Lightning does represent a new electric design, it is based on a solid platform. Ford has tons of experience, lots of parts, and repair centers for a well-established company. Tesla’s record with support and repair has been spotty from limited repair centers and long wait times.
8 Try Before You Buy
One of the most important aspects of car purchasing is the ability to take the vehicle out for a test drive. Someone can contact their local Ford dealership and schedule a test drive to see if the Ford F-150 Lightning is a good fit for them. This is a clear advantage to the ever-elusive Tesla Cybertruck which has been continually delayed and has no proper release date except for a tentative release this summer/fall. All basic car buyer guides include taking the prospective vehicles for a test drive prior to making the big financial investment of purchasing a car. Hopefully, those patiently awaiting the Cybertruck will be able to test drive one very soon, but the Lightning is already here waiting to be taken for a spin.
9 No Dearth Of Options With The Ford Lightning
Another feather in Ford’s cap is all the many available options there are. Tesla does provide a bit in the way of options for the Cybertruck, three different powertrain options: single-, dual-, and tri-motor. Ford has Pro, XLT, Lariat, and Platinum trims that offer different price points and performance. The Cybertruck comes in any color you want as long as it’s a matte silver. Ford, on the other hand, coined the sarcastic “any color you want” saying ironically provides 9 different color options available for the Lightning. Ford provides a standard- or extended-range battery to choose from, conversely, Tesla has been completely quiet about types of battery or any options they may eventually extend. Ford is also providing options for wheels, charging kits, exterior/bed options, audio, liners, and so much more.
10 Ford’s Ruggedness Appeals To Hardworking Tough Individuals
Often overlooked however serious consideration of almost all car buyers whether they admit it or not, is the overall lifestyle image the vehicle presents. Ford has gone after the blue-collar working man demographic, built for daily commuting but even more job sites, off-roading, rugged terrain driving. It’s been part of its slogan for years, “Built Ford Tough” appealing to those that want to be as tough and rugged as their vehicle. F series has always been popular among the heavy-duty-minded crowd, and this new F-150 Lightning continues that tradition. The Cybertruck doesn’t have a clear demographic appeal, but it doesn’t seem to have the same working man off-road appeal of the Ford F-Series. If someone is a hardworking, outdoor-playing, salt of the Earth type of individual the Ford F-150 is going to be more appealing than the strange and futuristic-looking Tesla Cybertruck.