Elon Musk debuted futuristic looking pickup truck named Cybertruck at an event in Los Angeles. The vehicle has big metallic blocky angular body and its price will start at $39,900.
Elon Musk tried to show the sturdiness of the vehicle by hitting the windows with steel balls, but the windows shattered, twice.
Tesla’s share price fell 6% after the reveal. Musk’s net worth plunged $768 million after window debacle video went viral.
Elon Musk tweeted on Sunday that Tesla has received over 146,000 Cybertruck orders so far. To make a booking, the customers must pay Tesla $100 fee which is refundable. Musk blended the orders with pre-orders to inflate the hype. According to the tweet 42% ordered dual motor version, 41% tri motor and 17% single motor with total pre-order of 146,000.
146k Cybertruck orders so far, with 42% choosing dual, 41% tri & 17% single motor
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 23, 2019
Cybertruck launch which Musk described as “a really futuristic-like cyberpunk, Blade Runner pickup”, sustained a very public embarrassing setback when its so called armored glass windows shattered in much a awaited unveiling. The general look of the futuristic electric truck troubled Wall Street. On Friday, Tesla’s share price crashed 6%, which brought Musk’s net worth down by $768 million in a single day.
Tri motor: 41% (59,860 orders) – Dual motor: 42% (61,320 orders) – Single motor: 17% (24,820 orders)
With a unique design, a stainless steel exoskeleton and a look that some fans call post apocalyptic, the Cybertruck is not your typical pickup truck. It’s Tesla’s attempt to break into an industry dominated by Ford, Chevrolet and Dodge Ram. Musk said that Cybertruck’s demand is high despite “no advertising & no paid endorsement”. It is pertinent to mention here that the U.S. pickup truck market is one of the world’s most profitable vehicle segments.
With no advertising & no paid endorsement
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 23, 2019
It seems by mentioning percentages of orders by trim, Musk want to highlight that people are going for the more costlier options. 41% of the orders are for the triple motor AWD that starts at $69,900, compared to 17% orders for single motor RWD that starts at $39,900.
The number of pre-orders is expected to keep climbing, reaching similar numbers as the Model 3, which received over 300,000 reservations the first week. To be fair, the initial deposit requirement is much lower this time around which makes it easier to place a pre-order. It would be no surprise if large number of orders are canceled after the initial hype dies out. But even with $100 deposit fee, 146,000 pre-orders translate to $14.6 million in deposits, and have potential sale value of $8 billion.
So, about that armored glass embarrassment. What happened was right after Elon Musk boasted about how the windows were shatterproof, Tesla’s chief designer Franz von Holzhausen threw a metal ball at the driver’s window. The ball instantly shattered the window, then he threw the ball again, this time towards the passenger window which shattered as well. Musk commented, in a sluggish tone, that there is room for improvement and also said; “maybe that was a little too hard.”
Cybertruck is the most powerful vehicle Tesla has ever built. It has 3,500 pounds of load capacity and features adjustable air suspension. It has hundred cubic feet of external lockable storage which includes a magic tonneau cover that is strong enough to stand on. Its single motor RWD has 250 miles of battery range and 7,500 pound towing capacity, it can do 0–60 mph in 6.5 seconds with starting price of $39,900. Dual motor AWD has 300 miles of battery range, 10,000-pound towing capacity, and 0–60 mph in 4.5 seconds with starting price of $49,900. Triple motor AWD has 500 miles battery range, 14,000-pound towing capacity, and 0–60 mph in 2.9 seconds with starting price of $69,900.
Production for single motor rear wheel drive and dual motor all wheel drive will start in late 2021, while production for triple motor truck will kick off in 2022.
