Cybertruck didn't need to go ugly early - Autoevolution article

[zipzag]

That's... not how payload capacity works. Of course if you've owned medium duty trucks, you knew that?

Payload capacity is nothing more than a rating required by regulation. It's only tangentially related to the carrying capacity of the vehicle.

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[Zoidz]

Musk didn't create the cybertruck. He approved it.

But its harder to disparage Franz von Holzhausen

This design was by Harley Earl, who many consider the father of modern automobile design.

Famous designers can fail.

Franz von Holzhausen is not somehow magically immune to failure.

Ever hear of the designer Farina? As in Ferrari Pininfarina ? He created this...

 

[Dark-Fx]

Musk didn't create the cybertruck. He approved it.

But its harder to disparage Franz von Holzhausen

Citation needed.

Payload capacity is nothing more than a rating required by regulation. It's only tangentially related to the carrying capacity of the vehicle.

Jesus christ you really are reaching here. I'm done arguing with you.

 

[DuoRivians]

It would be funny if Musk's Cybertruck were the equivalent of Howard Hughes' Spruce Goose.

Built up on hype, ego, and ultimately big failures. I would be laughing.

 

[zipzag]

June 2025 when the first CT Owners actually take delivery:
Buyer: "I'm so disappointed in the ride quality of my CT. I waited 4 years!!! I paid $80k for it!!! That's luxury price, dammit!!!! My BMW 8 Series ride is so much better!!!"

Real Truck Owner: "But it has a 3500 lb payload rating? What did you expect?"

Buyer: "Dammit!!!! I paid $80,000 for a luxury vehicle. This ride sucks!!!"

You KNOW this will happen. It happens on Rivian forums every week.

What I've learned about the R1T from the forums is 1) Terrible ride 2) The most comfortable vehicle ever driven.

In pickups coil springs certain have better manners than leaf. But I've never had a pickup with an air suspension.

 

[COdogman]

Musk didn't create the cybertruck. He approved it.

But its harder to disparage Franz von Holzhausen

So your contention is that famous micromanager Elon Musk had very little input on the creation of this truck and only signed his name once the folder appeared on his desk?

It's his company and Franz is his employee.

 

[zipzag]

This design was by Harley Earl, who many consider the father of modern automobile design.

Famous designers can fail.

Franz von Holzhausen is not somehow magically immune to failure.

Ever hear of the designer Farina? As in Ferrari Pininfarina ? He created this...

Not saying Franz is a genius. I'm not big on egg shaped car design. The Model S to me is the only classic design from Tesla. And that's a design close to many other vehicle.

My point only that Musk obviously didn't design the CT. It's odd anyone would think he did.

Failure for a company is failure to sell. All 1.5+ million reservation holders have seen the CT.

I'm glad we had car designs like the ones you posted. What a boring world it would be without designers pushing the envelope.

 

[moosehead]

Only person I know that loves the Aztek said they would buy the Cybertruck if they could afford it. At the original pricing they can't.

Walter White would prolly be able to afford a CT if Tesla accepted cash.

Upon further reflection, CT would be perfect for a meth dealer.

 

[Dark-Fx]

So you know (for a fact) these basic things?

1. Price
2. Range
3. Weight
4. Dimensions
5. Payload
6. Towing capacity
7. suspension details
8. Interior details
9. Safety test results

To my knowledge only 1 of those things is even attempted to be answered on their website and even that hasn't been confirmed. ?‍

Why is it so hard to just say you don't know yet what it will be? Try it - set yourself free.

Since it briefly functions as a boat, you're missing some other important boat questions. Draft, Cruising speed, Range (nm), Beam, and passenger Capacity. I'm sure there are others but those are the important ones.

 

[the long way downunder]

You guys are hilarious. Cybertruck will be sold out for 5+ years straight. People are tired of the same old thing and want something fresh.

The R1T isn't a particularly attractive vehicle either. The R1S is much better from an aesthetics point of view.

I literally know four friends and family that have Cybertruck reservations and plan on purchasing it. You think Hummer EV's and Rivian early flips made some nice cash. You haven't seen nothing yet.

Your comments are bit contradictory. We know there's a million people interested in the CT. Probably half of them will not pay the price Tesla will command for the first year or two, and half will buy a competitor. I expect the CT will bring several other Tesla models (the Tau, a smaller Y, and a van/shuttle.)

So I think Tesla decided to build a factory and a product line (CT, Tau, Van) rather than parts bin the Model X into a pickup.

The point of the article is a bit fuzzy, but the general idea is Tesla has wasted years on making the CT a "future shock" instead of just renovating the Model X and rolling it out in 2020 as a pickup and then say '22 as an SUV. I think the success of the 3/Y and weakening demand for the S/X indicate Tesla missed several years when having a pickup would have added a lot of sales without costing S3XY sales.

We'll learn more on Tesla huckster day, March 1st, but if Tesla ramps up to build 1M CTs in '24, and the $100 placeholders experience 50% attrition, the order backlog will clear in 18 months.
But what's the point in speculating about 2025 or 2026?

The CT sells on technology and utility (1MV, 1MW) rather than good looks, build quality and all those old ideas of why people buy vehicles. I'll get one asap and (1) never be seen driving it and (2) park it around the back of the barn and plug it in as a household power battery.

 

[COdogman]

Since it briefly functions as a boat, you're missing some other important boat questions. Draft, Cruising speed, Range (nm), Beam, and passenger Capacity. I'm sure there are others but those are the important ones.

I was thinking of that, but I’m born and raised in CO so I’m not educated in nautical terms. I usually combine them into one and say “boatworthiness”

 

[zipzag]

Your comments are bit contradictory. We know there's a million people interested in the CT. Probably half of them will not pay the price Tesla will command for the first year or two, and half will buy a competitor. I expect the CT will bring several other Tesla models (the Tau, a smaller Y, and a van/shuttle.)

So I think Tesla decided to build a factory and a product line (CT, Tau, Van) rather than parts bin the Model X into a pickup.

The point of the article is a bit fuzzy, but the general idea is Tesla has wasted years on making the CT a "future shock" instead of just renovating the Model X and rolling it out in 2020 as a pickup and then say '22 as an SUV. I think the success of the 3/Y and weakening demand for the S/X indicate Tesla missed several years when having a pickup would have added a lot of sales without costing S3XY sales.

We'll learn more on Tesla huckster day, March 1st, but if Tesla ramps up to build 1M CTs in '24, and the $100 placeholders experience 50% attrition, the order backlog will clear in 18 months.
But what's the point in speculating about 2025 or 2026?

The CT sells on technology and utility (1MV, 1MW) rather than good looks, build quality and all those old ideas of why people buy vehicles. I'll get one asap and (1) never be seen driving it and (2) park it around the back of the barn and plug it in as a household power battery.

Musk said that CT production is designed for 250-300K. I think it would be strange if the actually spent capex for more capacity before they get a feel for ongoing demand. It's a fairly specialized vehicle, regardless of looks.

In the last few years Tesla simply couldn't build any more total vehicles, at least for North America. But I do wonder if a hidden story is China not letting Tesla build a new, less expensive vehicle. The one battery they could probably buy in higher volume is local LFP.

No one is building class 8 EV in volume because of battery constraints.

I have no idea how the cybertruck is a platform to launch more vehicles. If the side of the vehicle is a beam the shape of the vehicle is constrained by needing to form that beam Pretty much the opposite of a EV skateboard. Pre-2019 I expect the Tesla pickup to be the first vehicle on a new large platform.

There's a missing platform piece in Tesla's plans. I'm sure Tesla considers the existing S and X platforms completely unsuitable for future products.

 

[WSea]

Since it briefly functions as a boat, you're missing some other important boat questions. Draft, Cruising speed, Range (nm), Beam, and passenger Capacity. I'm sure there are others but those are the important ones.

Running lights? USCG Capacity info?

 

[Dark-Fx]

Running lights? USCG Capacity info?

If I'm out in my amphibious EV pickup truck after dark on the water, I probably have bigger concerns than running lights.

 

[NY_Rob]

That won’t stop me from mocking all the insane claims about this truck. Like this one:

Lol.. this one is particularly enticing to me... I could sell our boat and trailer and just launch the CT right from the ramp to enjoy a day out fishing or just being out on the water to catch some rays! Even better... "F" the boat ramp with the lunatic boat owners... I could just drive the CT right into the water from the local beach and save on ramp fees every year. Brilliant!!! ?

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