Tesla CEO Elon Musk tempered expectations for the company’s planned Cybertruck, saying the company faces numerous challenges with the car.
In a recent Q3 earnings call with investors, Mr. Musk said the unique design of the Cybertruck poses complications as Tesla nears the electric pickup’s launch.
“One of those special products that comes along only once in a long while,” he said. “And special products that come along once in a long while are just incredibly difficult to bring to market to reach volume, to be prosperous.”
Mr. Musk went on to caution fans eagerly awaiting the car’s Nov. 30 start. He went so far as to say, “We dug our own grave with the Cybertruck.”
“When you’ve got a product with a lot of new technology or any brand new vehicle program, especially one that is as different and advanced as the Cybertruck, you will have problems proportionate to how many new things you’re trying to solve at scale,” he explained.
Part of the problem with the launch may be Mr. Musk’s own expectations. According to reports, he told Tesla employees that the measurements and specifics of the truck had to be exact, not varying by one-thousandth of a millimeter.
Early versions of the Cybertruck have been seen by some and have been lambasted online for being fingerprint magnets. There was even a famous incident at a conference where Mr. Musk tried to demonstrate the strength of the vehicle’s window glass, only to have it shatter in front of him.
The launch of the Cybertruck comes at a crucial time for Tesla as other car manufacturers try to break into the EV market. While the firm dominates the arena, other car companies like Ford and GM are expected to have cheaper and possibly more reliable alternatives to Tesla in the coming years.
• Vaughn Cockayne can be reached at vcockayne@washingtontimes.com.
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