Tesla and Elon Musk’s Latest Cybertruck Updates

The long-awaited Tesla Cybertruck is expected to enter production later this year, after several delays over the years. In recent months, Tesla CEO Elon Musk has shared a few tidbits about the unique electric pickup, even calling it “better than expectations.”

Above: A Tesla Cybertruck model from EVANNEX (Image: Casey Murphy / EVANNEX).

The Tesla Cybertruck is expected to enter production later this year, with first deliveries also set to go out within the year, according to a statement from Musk in May (via Business Insider). The futuristic truck has drawn tons of headlines for its unique, sci-fi-like appearance, and it’s also garnered quite a backlog of reservations.

"Sorry for the delay, we're finally going to start delivering production Cybertrucks later this year,” Musk said during the Tesla shareholder meeting held in May. “And I think the product, if anything, is better than expectations."

Earlier this month, Musk also shared a photo of a pre-production Cybertruck on Twitter, saying that he had driven the vehicle around Austin, Texas.

Just drove Cybertruck around Austin! pic.twitter.com/QN19Agqa7R

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 8, 2023

The Cybertruck is expected to include a wide range of cutting-edge features, and Musk has even said the vehicle will be able to "serve briefly as a boat." It’s also expected to include rear-wheel steering and a handful of other features, many of which are yet to be determined. Consumers can also expect it to include classic Tesla features such as the touchscreen infotainment center, a large frunk, and swift charging speeds compared to the industry.

Additionally, the Cybertruck is expected to use Tesla’s V4 Megacharging hardware, which Insider says could result in a full charge in less than a half an hour. However, it’s not entirely clear if this will be the case with final production models, and details are likely to be shared upon release.

Above: Cybertruck could be a game-changer, says former Tesla board member Steve Westly (Video: CNBC / YouTube).

In an interview earlier this year, Edmunds analyst Ivan Drury described the vehicle as a unique addition to the electric truck sector, adding that its features could simply be a bonus if it comes out similar to pre-production versions.

"This is a vehicle that competes against everybody and nobody," Drury told Insider. "If the Cybertruck comes to fruition looking like it did at the debut, that should be more than enough — everything else from tech and features is just icing on the cake."

As for how much the Cybertruck will cost, Tesla said in 2019 that it would debut for $40,000, though Musk has updated onlookers saying that this is no longer accurate. Currently, the Tesla Model 3 floats around $40,000, while the Model X Plaid, the most expensive of the bunch, starts at a little over $108,000. It’s not yet clear how much the Cybertruck will cost upon debut, though customers who want one can secure it with a refundable $100 deposit.

Tesla Cybertruck reservations are estimated by electrek to include more than 1.8 million orders, though it’s worth noting that reservation holders can cancel at any time — so its unclear how closely final orders will resemble this figure.

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