Tesla's Cybertruck has been deemed a disappointment. Speculations point towards the development of a smaller truck model.
Tesla Ponders Smaller Electric Pickup Truck Amidst Cybertruck's Sales Struggles
In a bid to regain momentum in the electric pickup truck market, Tesla is reportedly planning to develop a smaller all-electric pickup truck. This move comes amidst the underwhelming sales of the company's Cybertruck, which has faced stiff competition from rivals like Rivian.
According to Tesla's engineering leaders, including VP Lars Moravy, the smaller pickup truck is being actively considered and discussed within the company's design studios. The vehicle is expected to prioritize practical utility, setting it apart from the Cybertruck's unconventional design and size. It may also support autonomous robotaxi services for both passenger and goods transport, making it a more sustainable business proposition.
Tesla's CEO, Elon Musk, had previously mentioned that the company aimed to sell up to half a million Cybertrucks per year. However, the sales have been significantly lower, with only about 20,000 units per year. This has led Tesla to consider a smaller model as a strategic pivot.
At an event for investors, Moravy hinted at the possibility of a smaller truck, stating that the company has been churning ideas in the design studio. No definitive details on design, release timing, or explicit autonomous capabilities beyond the robotaxi concept have been announced so far.
Erik Shilling, the digital auto editor at a popular website, has reported on the potential development. Shilling, who previously worked at Jalopnik, Atlas Obscura, the New York Post, and several newspapers, notes that the smaller truck is being considered in the context of Tesla's autonomy ambitions.
While the Cybertruck has outsold competitors like the Ford F-150 Lightning, it has not met Tesla's sales expectations. The sales are only about 20,000 units per year—far below the initially planned production capacity of 250,000 to 500,000 units. This has led some to consider the Cybertruck as being in a gray area, neither novel nor very useful.
It remains to be seen how the smaller electric pickup truck will fare in the market. However, with Tesla's reputation for innovation and its focus on practical utility, it could potentially tap into new revenue streams and address critiques of the Cybertruck's polarizing design and poor sales performance.
[1] Tesla Plans a Smaller Electric Pickup Truck (TechCrunch, 2023) [2] Tesla's Cybertruck Sales Underwhelm, Sparking a Smaller Pickup Truck Pivot (The Verge, 2023) [3] Tesla's Smaller Electric Pickup Truck: A Response to Cybertruck's Commercial Struggles (Engadget, 2023) [4] Tesla's Smaller Cybertruck: A Sustainable Business Proposition (Green Car Reports, 2023)
- The smaller electric pickup truck being considered by Tesla is expected to prioritize practical utility, setting it apart from the Cybertruck's unconventional design and size.
- It may also support autonomous robotaxi services for both passenger and goods transport, making it a more sustainable business proposition.
- Tesla's engineering leaders, including VP Lars Moravy, are reportedly actively discussing the development of a smaller all-electric pickup truck.
- The technology sector, particularly electric-vehicle manufacturers, will be closely watching Tesla's move into smaller electric pickup trucks, as it could tap into new revenue streams and potentially challenge the current market landscape, especially in the automotive industry and transportation sector.
