On December 1st, at 5 AM Korean time (November 30th, 2 PM local time in the U.S.), Tesla held the first delivery event of the Cybertruck, the world’s first all-electric pickup truck, at its headquarters in Austin, Texas. Tesla CEO Elon Musk made a grand entrance driving the Cybertruck, signaling the start of the event.
Over the four years from its launch announcement to this delivery, the Cybertruck has faced numerous ups and downs, including criticism that it would be “impossible to commercialize.” In the Tesla earnings call for the third quarter of 2023, Musk likened the challenges of mass production to “digging one’s own grave.” But finally, today, impossibility has become possibility.
According to the detailed specifications released on site, the Cybertruck is more practical than typical trucks and faster than sports cars. It features a stainless steel exoskeleton and bulletproof glass, ensuring durability and adaptability to all road conditions with all-terrain tires. Its towing capacity is 4,990 kg, able to tow an African elephant, while it can carry 1.13 tons of cargo. With a Steer by Wire system and rear-wheel steering, it offers handling akin to a sports car, though it has a turning radius larger than most vehicles.
Musk has publicly stated that the pre-orders for the Cybertruck have exceeded 1 million. The global pickup truck market is enormous, with over 5.65 million units sold worldwide in 2022, and North America alone accounts for more than 2.7 million units sold annually, making it the largest pickup truck market.
Just as Tesla’s Model S, 3, X, and Y electric vehicles have revolutionized the automotive market over the past several years, the Cybertruck is expected to shake up the pickup truck market as well.
By Lee Sang-jin daedusj@autodiary.kr