What the heck is going on with the Tesla Cybertruck?

(Epitome credit: Tesla)

Elon Musk'southward pet project, the Telsa Cybertruck, may have just suffered another filibuster. Originally slated for launch late last year, last August saw the automaker delay the truck until belatedly 2022. At present it looks like that launch window isn't guaranteed.

Tesla has removed the 2022 launch judge from the Cybertruck club folio. That suggests that the automaker isn't certain whether the car volition arrive before the end of the year. Pre-orders are still open, though some people volition likely think twice about handing over a eolith with no guaranteed delivery window. Even if it is fully refundable.

The original Cybertruck delay wasn't a huge surprise. There had been rumors that a delay was going to happen in the weeks leading upwards to the official announcement, and the company dodged questions most the Cybertruck production schedule during its Q2 earnings call.

As far equally we know, production is set to have place at Tesla's gigafactory in Austin, Texas, only the company has made it clear for a while that production of the Model Y would be taking priority. Model Y production has nevertheless to embark, only information technology is rumored to be kicking off in the next couple of weeks.

Nonetheless, the Model Y isn't the only affair standing in the way of Cybertruck product. The truck's unique design, which comes from its steel exo-skeleton frame, requires an all new casting process that needed time to be finalized.

Last Baronial, CEO0 Elon Musk also claimed shortages of 4680 battery cells meant that it would be impossible to make the Cybertruck cost effective at the fourth dimension. If he's to exist believed, the Cybertruck would take price "a million dollars a slice" had production began last summer.

Tesla is as well not immune to supply chain issues that have plagued the automotive manufacture. Last year the automaker started shipping certain cars without certain components, including USB-C ports and wireless chargers. This was likely but the tip of the iceberg, and information technology could well be that the supply chain is one more obstacle the Cybertruck has to overcome.

We're going to have to look and run into what happens, and whether Tesla makes any formal announcements about the Cybertruck's fate. Thankfully the company's Q4 2021 earnings call is scheduled to have place on Jan 26, and an updated roadmap has already been promised. No doubt the Cybertruck volition exist one of the key topics of discussion.

Tesla is no stranger to delays, however, and given Musk's enthusiasm for the bizarrely-shaped truck, I have no doubt that the Cybertruck volition hit the roads. It'south just a matter of when.

However, every delay simply gives rival electric trucks, including the Rivian R1T and Ford F-150 Lightning, more than time to flourish.

Tom is the Tom'south Guide'south Automotive Editor, which means he can usually exist found human knee deep in stats the latest and best electric cars, or checking out some sort of driving gadget. It's long way from his days equally editor of Gizmodo UK, when pretty much everything was on the table. He's usually plant trying to squeeze some other behemothic Lego set onto the shelf, draining very large cups of coffee, or complaining that Ikea won't let him purchase the stuff he really needs online.