After experiencing multiple years of setbacks and delays, it appears that the highly anticipated Cybertruck from Tesla is finally making its way to consumers. In an early Saturday morning tweet, Tesla shared an image of a Cybertruck that had recently rolled off the assembly line at its Giga Texas facility in Austin. The automaker proudly announced, “First Cybertruck built at Giga Texas!” alongside the photo.
According to insights from Electrek, the vehicle depicted is likely a production intent model, specifically designed by Tesla to optimize the manufacturing process for the new vehicle on a larger scale. The fact that Tesla shared an image of a finished Cybertruck suggests that the company is on track to meet the most recent timeline set by Elon Musk for this long-awaited pickup truck, which has faced numerous delays in the past.
First Cybertruck built at Giga Texas! ? pic.twitter.com/ODRhHVsd0t
— Tesla (@Tesla) July 15, 2023
At the beginning of the year, Musk had predicted that volume production of the Cybertruck would commence in 2024, with limited production likely starting in the summer. In more recent discussions with investors, Musk indicated that Tesla would hold a Cybertruck delivery event in the third quarter of 2023. He emphasized the challenges associated with manufacturing this unique vehicle, stating that it requires time to establish the production line due to its radical design and unconventional manufacturing methods compared to traditional cars. The Cybertruck’s distinctive stainless steel frame involves complex manufacturing techniques that deviate from standard automotive production. Tesla has also faced recurring bottlenecks in relation to its next-generation 4680 battery technology.
The original release date set by Tesla for the Cybertruck was a rather optimistic 2021. During that time, the automaker announced a starting price of $39,900 for the single-motor variant, with the three-motor model priced at $70,000. However, Tesla has since clarified that final pricing for the Cybertruck is yet to be determined and could be influenced by various factors, including supply chain challenges and the overall state of the economy.