Elon Musk Unleashes Tesla Cyber Truck: Starting At Rs 28 Lakh, It’s Faster Than Porsche, Runs 800 Kms!

On Thursday, the American company Tesla launched its first electric pickup truck that looked like a futuristic angular armored vehicle in gunmetal gray. 

Why An Electric Truck?

The automotive company is expecting to grab the heart of Detroit automakers’ profits.

The Tesla Chief Executive Elon Musk at a launch event in Los Angeles said that the Cybertruck’s pricing will start from $39,900 and production is expected to start in late 2021.

While other versions will be priced at $49,900 and $69,900 with the most expensive offering a range of more than 500 miles. (Reference)

Musk said “We need sustainable energy now. If we don’t have a pickup truck, we can’t solve it. The top 3 selling vehicles in America are pickup trucks. To solve sustainable energy, we have to have a pickup truck,”.

What Didn’t Work?

While talking about the futuristic truck, Musk claimed “won’t scratch and dent”, as it was described as having windows made from armored glass. 

But during the demonstration, the glass cracked like a spider web when hit with a metal ball. 

It shocked Musk but he didn’t react only noted that the glass had not completely broken.

What Kind Of Response This Truck Got?

This electric truck got reactions on Twitter which ranged from love to hate of the sharply angled vehicle. 

@aidan_tenud wrote “I just watched tesla release the #cybertruck and honestly? My life feels complete,”. 

While other @nateallensnyde wrote, “It’s nice to see Elon Musk make a cardboard box car he drew in kindergarten,”.

While giving more information about the design Musk tweeted earlier saying the design was partly influenced by the Lotus Esprit sportscar that doubled as a submarine in the 1970s 007 film “The Spy Who Loved Me”.

What Is Expected From This Launch?

The launch of this truck marks the first foray by Tesla, whose Model 3 sedan is the world’s top-selling battery-electric car, into pickup trucks.

Right now this market is dominated by Ford Motor Co’s F-150, along with models by General Motors Co, and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV.

This launch shows Tesla’s shift towards the trucks and SUVs segment. So far, the automaker has sold mostly Model S and Model 3 sedans, but also offers the Model X SUV and starting next year the Model Y compact SUV.

The focus on the high-performance end of the market is natural citing the success of Ford’s 450-horsepower F-150 Raptor truck.

These trucks were launched in 2009 and whose sales have since risen annually, according to Ford spokesman Mike Levine.

It is expected that electric pickups and SUVs could help Ford and GM generate significant EV sales they will need to meet tougher emission standards and EV mandates in California and other states.

Contrary to that Trump administration is moving to roll back those standards, but electric trucks are a hedge if California prevails.

However, the demand for full-size electric pickup trucks in the near term may not be huge.

As per the reports, GM plans to build a family of premium electric pickup trucks and SUVs, with the first pickup due to go on sale in the fall of 2021. 

By 2023, It plans to invest $8 billion to develop electric and self-driving vehicles.