When Tesla became one of the first automakers to unveil an electric pickup truck in 2019, fans and the trade press alike went wild. No wonder, since the Cybertruck offers a truly eye-catching design in combination with even more innovative technology. But, after the study and the announcement of a production launch for the end of 2021, nothing more followed for a long time. Instead, established competitors in the fiercely contested pickup market sensed their chance in the market niche. And, so the Ford F-150 Lightning successfully debuted in June 2021, while the Chevrolet Silverado EV is expected to follow it as early as this spring. In the end, the Tesla Cybertruck will probably only have the option of trying to roll up the field from behind. New information from Elon Musk himself confirms that the Cybertruck could go into production in the middle of this year, but mass production is not expected until 2024.

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Elon Musk Announces Production Start Of The Cybertruck For Mid-2023

Side view of the Tesla Cybertruck
Tesla
Side view of the Tesla Cybertruck

During Tesla's Q4 and Full Year 2022 earnings call, Tesla CEO Elon Musk confirmed to the press in attendance that the Tesla Cybertruck will enter production in mid-2023. At the same time, however, Musk also admitted that production ramp-ups were always very slow, which is why he would not attach "too much stock" to them. Instead, the Tesla CEO already has his sights set on the larger goal of ramping up volume production of the model by 2024. The official confirmation from the automaker coincides with a report from Reuters from last year, according to which the Cybertruck could come to market with a delay of more than two years.

Tesla had not confirmed the report at the time, but shortly before, said that it was preparing its plant in Austin for a planned pre-production of the Cybertruck in mid-2023. In fact, however, pre-production does not yet mean foreseeable mass production, as production processes first have to be practiced and machines have to be set up correctly. Usually, a period of around six months can be expected for such phases, but if the complexity of the Cybertruck's stainless steel body is taken into account, this phase could take considerably longer. In that case, mass production for early 2024 would also be unachievable.

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No Mass Production Expected Before 2024

Back three-quarter look of Cybertruck
Tesla
Back three-quarter look of Cybertruck

One of the reasons for the delayed start of production of the Cybertruck could be the model's battery. According to the report by Reuters, the Cybertruck is likely to be the first Tesla model equipped with the long-announced 4680 battery. However, there are said to have been significant delays in production during the development process, which is why the Cybertruck could use the tried-and-tested normal Tesla battery technology after all, at least for the start of production.

The Tesla Cybertruck was first presented to the public in 2019 and was originally scheduled to be delivered to the first customers at the end of 2021. However, the electric pickup, which Tesla has high expectations for, failed to meet several deadlines and is therefore still awaiting its production launch. However, while the Cybertuck's fiercest competitors have successfully launched on the market or will soon follow suit, it will be interesting to see how Tesla will perform for the first time with a new model in an already established market environment.