The Tesla Cybertruck will make it to US production in 2023, says Elon Musk, insisting the oft-delayed electric pickup will be the company’s “magnum opus”.
On a stream of the company’s Cyber Rodeo event at its new Giga Texas factory near Austin, Musk and designer Franz von Holzhausen (he of smashed Cybertruck window fame) had a chat next to the latest iteration of the truck, still in concept form.
Riding on more road-ready wheels, the latest iteration of Cybertruck also forgoes door handles. “Who needs handles? The car can just tell you’re there and knows that it needs to open,” Musk said cryptically.
It looks like an already-leaked prototype, so don’t believe any hype suggesting this is wildly new.
Originally revealed in late 2019 and promised for production in 2021, the eventual series-production Cybertruck will compete in the USA with the Ford F-150 Lightning, Chevrolet Silverado EV, Rivian R1T, Ram 1500 EV, and reborn GMC Hummer.
In a passing blow to these vehicles, delivered despite Tesla’s own delays, a confident Mr von Holzhausen bragged “there is no other truck, everything else pales in comparison”.
Eloin Musk apologised for the delays.
“We’re going to have an incredible Cybertruck you next year, it’s going to blow your minds,” Musk told his legion of diehards at Giga Texas.
“… We can’t wait to build this here and deliver them to you. Sorry for the delay, it’s been an intense couple of years…”
On the Aussie front, the Tesla Model 3 accounted for almost two-thirds of all electric car sales in Australia between January 1 and March 31, 2022.
You can still place a refundable $150 pre-order on a Cybertruck from Tesla’s Australian site, though we have nothing official regarding a local launch. North America is the obvious focus, so don’t hold your breath.
MORE: Tesla Cybertruck, Roadster, Semi ‘hopefully’ launching in 2023
MORE: 2023 Tesla Cybertruck leaked in high resolution
MORE: Tesla Cybertruck delayed again for new features – report
