At this point, calling the wait for the Tesla Cybertruck long would be an understatement. Since late 2019, when Tesla CEO Elon Musk debuted the adventure truck, there have been a number of setbacks for manufacturing to begin, mostly to do with component shortages.
Now, however, Tesla has finally commenced production on one of its most anticipated vehicles ever, with deliveries expected to begin in late 2023 or early 2024.
Is it, however, a case of too little too late? Tesla is not the only one targeting the EV adventure truck segment: American electric vehicle manufacturer Rivian has been on the scene with its R1T truck for nearly two years now, and doing a pretty good job of it, too.
What’s more, Rivian recently announced that it would be expanding its dual-motor availability as it increases production. With the competition picking up with other manufacturers, could the Tesla Cybertruck’s chances be dead in the water before the first example even rolls off the Giga Texas floor?
All information in this article has been sourced from credible sites like Futurism, Elon Musk's Twitter account, and J.D. Power.
The Key Challenges Facing The Tesla Cybertruck
The trouble facing Tesla is the fact that there is a precedent to the delays plaguing the Cybertruck. The Tesla Roadster is a great example of over-promising and under-delivering.
It was unveiled in 2017 to much fanfare, but it’s in development to this date. The Tesla Semi was also revealed in 2017, but only recently made it into production. The Semi will only sell in limited numbers.
The Cybertruck, seemingly, has its own share of issues. A set of leaked documents, now dubbed the “Tesla Files”, emerged earlier this year that highlight a range of problems with the earliest development models of the Cybertruck.
The document outlines problems with the Cybertruck’s handling, suspension, braking system, chassis design, and even basic vehicle requirements such as seals.
Unfortunately, the issues don't stop there. The Cybertruck failed internal testing for NVH (noise, vibration, and harshness), and experienced structural shake when subjected to testing. It also exhibited several handling issues that made the vehicle feel choppy and unstable, apparently even making testers concerned about sustaining whiplash during certain tests.
Low-speed maneuver tests showed the Cybertruck exhibiting significant lateral jerk, a high amount of body roll, and a very unrefined handling system overall.
Even if we were to keep aside the leaked document’s findings, Tesla itself recently showed off the Cybertruck tackling a muddy path, which in itself would have made for a cool picture. The trouble is that the large, single wiper that Tesla employed for the Cybertruck’s windshield might not be, well, large enough. Or even effective, for that matter.
It’s one thing to try and come up with innovative solutions that could potentially go on to become game-changers if they’re implemented successfully. And this is something that Tesla has had a fair amount of success with in the past, but innovation for the sake of innovation might not be the best idea.
These issues, and quite a few more, make for an eye-opener of a progress report, especially considering how close Elon Musk believes the Cybertruck is to hitting showrooms.
This could mean that there will be more delays before you see production-ready Cybertrucks on the road. At the same time, this wouldn’t be the first instance that Tesla has pulled itself out of a jam in the nick of time.
Rivian’s Upward Trajectory With The R1T
The Rivian R1T, meanwhile, is the futuristic electric pickup truck alternative to the Cybertruck that’s already on sale. But it all started in 2018 when Rivian beat Tesla to the punch in unveiling its electric pickup truck, the R1T, and the R1S EV SUV. And as the R1T went on sale, it was quick to gain popularity.
In fact, as part of a recent J.D. Power Electric Vehicle Experience Ownership Study, the Rivian R1T is the most satisfying EV to own in 2023.
It’s powered by two or four electric motors, depending on the model you pick, but the more powerful version will give your R1T a commendable 835 horsepower. As for the claimed range, you can expect anywhere between 260 and 400 miles on a full charge, depending on the battery pack and motor configuration.
The R1T is not just built for the road, either. It comes with adjustable air suspension, all-terrain tires, and a carbon fiber underbody shield. It can even maneuver through a water depth of three feet and rock crawl at an impressive 100% grade. The Rivian R1T is extremely safe, too.
Utility-wise, the R1T offers more than 62 cubic feet of storage, as spread among the truck bed, front trunk, rear storage bin, under-seat compartments, center console, and gear tunnel.
Its gear tunnel is a surprise feature, adding more storage space. Rivian says the R1T has a towing capacity of 11,000 lbs. and a payload capacity of 1,760 lbs.
All this ability doesn’t come at the cost of the cabin, though. It’s luxurious, packed with high-tech elements such as leather, wood, a massive 16.0-inch infotainment system, and a separate digital gauge display.
It’s no wonder, then, that Rivian has made its way up the best seller’s list, and will make for a formidable competitor to the Cybertruck when the latter eventually goes on sale.
Why Tesla Can Turn Things Around As The Dark Horse
While it’s true that the Rivian R1T will give the Tesla Cybertruck some stern competition, the market isn’t exactly short of EV truck options at the moment. There’s already the Ford F-150 Lightning on sale, which is a perennial best-seller, and the GMC Hummer EV as well. In addition to this, the Chevrolet Silverado EV, the GMC Colorado EV, and the RAM 1500 Revolution will all join the fray.
But there’s a reason Tesla is the behemoth it is today. Keep aside Elon Musk's knack for creating headlines (which aren’t always for good reasons), and the over-promising and under-delivering nature of its product unveils, and there’s a company that’s steeped in engineering excellence and immense backing in terms of resources.
With regard to the leaked documents highlighting the numerous issues with the Cybertruck, former COO of Nissan and CEO of Aston Martin, Andy Palmer, known as the “Godfather of EVs”, stated that they’re nothing of real concern.
All the problems that are shown in the report are relatively standard for a brand-new vehicle, especially when developed by a company with no prior experience in a specific vehicle type. This is exactly the case with Tesla and the Cybertruck.
Moreover, all the issues with the Cybertruck, including the suspension, handling, braking, noise, and vibrations, can be addressed with enough time, money, and engineering prowess.
There’s no doubting the latter two aspects, but whether there’s enough time on Tesla’s side is the only real question.