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Elon Musk hints at smaller Tesla Cybertruck version down the road
Following the unveiling of Tesla’s Cybertruck last week, CEO Elon Musk has hinted that a smaller version of the futuristic pickup may be coming in the future. This statement from Musk came after some potential owners expressed they would be interested in a more compact version of the recently-unveiled vehicle that would be more suitable for smaller driveways and residences.
Tesla unveiled the Cybertruck on November 21. The all-electric truck from the company based out of Silicon Valley caught the eye of many people due to its unique and unorthodox shape. One Twitter follower of Musk’s requested a smaller truck down the road, as he facetiously expressed the vehicle may block his whole street. Musk replied, saying that it “probably makes sense to build a smaller Cybertruck too.”
The size of the Cybertruck is a big talking point for those who are interested in the vehicle. Its futuristic and unusually modern shape is a design that has not been used in the past by any other car manufacturer. However, not everyone who wants or needs to own a truck for either work or leisure can house this gigantic pickup.
Other manufacturers have had success varying the sizes of their trucks by releasing multiple models of the same body style. Ford, for example, has done this with its F-Series that has gained the reputation as the most popular line of pickup trucks in the U.S. in 2019, with the F-150 being recognized as the most popular truck in the country, according to J.D. Power. In terms of dimensions, the Cybertruck is similar to the F-150 and Dodge Ram 1500.
- Tesla Cybertruck: 231.5 inches long, 79.8 inches wide, 75 inches tall, 6.5-foot bed
- 2020 Ford F-150 XL: 209 inches long, 80 inches wide, 75 inches tall, 5.5-foot bed
- 2020 Dodge Ram 1500: 229 inches long, 82 inches wide, 77 inches tall, 5.6-foot bed
Tesla’s Cybertruck will give owners more storage capacity than any other pickup on the market right now thanks to its bed that is nearly a foot longer than the other two vehicles. The Ford F-150 XL has 62.5 cubic feet of storage, and while this is the company’s smallest version of the truck, it packs 62% of the storage capacity compared to the 100 cubic feet offered by Tesla’s Cybertruck. The 2020 Dodge Ram 1500 offers 61.5 cubic feet, just one foot less than the F-150 but still only a fraction of Tesla’s new “Bladerunner-Esque” pickup.
Tesla may find it beneficial down the road to try and create a smaller variation of the Cybertruck. The truck, while available in different variants as far as the number of engines, is only available in one size. While more cargo space is definitely a plus, there are certainly plenty of reasons why it could be the reason someone does not buy the vehicle. Some people simply do not have the room for a large truck, especially if they live in a small house or community where there is not enough room for the vehicle. The Twitter user who reached out to Musk recognized that the truck would be a great vehicle to own, but it may not be the most logical thing to buy considering he does not have space for it.
Elon Musk has proven to us in the past that he is a man of the people. He listens to the requests of potential Tesla owners and uses them to improve the vehicles Tesla manufactures. While the Cybertruck does not begin production until late 2021, there is plenty of time for Musk and Tesla’s team of designers to come up with a modified design that would appeal to those who do not have the need for the massive Cybertruck.
Elon Musk
Elon Musk to attend 2026 World Economic Forum at Davos
The Tesla CEO was confirmed as a last-minute speaker for a session with BlackRock CEO Larry Fink.
Elon Musk is poised to attend the 2026 World Economic Forum in Davos. The Tesla CEO was confirmed as a last-minute speaker for a session with BlackRock CEO Larry Fink, signaling a thaw in Musk’s long-strained relationship with the event.
A late addition
Organizers of the World Economic Forum confirmed that Elon Musk was added shortly before the event to a Thursday afternoon session, where he was scheduled to speak with Fink, as noted in a Bloomberg News report. Musk’s upcoming appearance marks Musk’s first participation in the forum, which annually draws political leaders, business executives, and global media to Davos, Switzerland.
Musk’s attendance represents a departure from his past stance toward the event. He had been invited in prior years but declined to attend, including in 2024. His upcoming appearance followed remarks from his political ally, Donald Trump, who addressed the forum earlier in the week with a wide-ranging speech.
A previously strained relationship
Musk had frequently criticized the World Economic Forum in the past, describing it as elitist and questioning its influence. In earlier posts, he characterized the gathering as “boring” and accused it of functioning like an unelected global authority. Those remarks contributed to a long-running distance between Musk and WEF organizers.
The forum previously said Musk had not been invited since 2015, though that position has since shifted. Organizers indicated last year that Musk was welcome amid heightened interest in his political and business activities, including his involvement in the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Musk later stepped away from that role.
Despite his friction with the World Economic Forum, Musk has remained central to several global events, from SpaceX’s provision of satellite internet services in geopolitically sensitive regions through Starlink to the growing use of xAI’s Grok in U.S. government applications.
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Tesla states Giga Berlin workforce is stable, rejects media report
As per the electric vehicle maker, production and employment levels at the facility remain stable.
Tesla Germany has denied recent reports alleging that it has significantly reduced staffing at Gigafactory Berlin. As per the electric vehicle maker, production and employment levels at the facility remain stable.
Tesla denies Giga Berlin job cuts report
On Wednesday, German publication Handelsblatt reported that Tesla’s workforce in Gigafactory Berlin had been reduced by about 1,700 since 2024, a 14% drop. The publication cited internal documents as its source for its report.
In a statement to Reuters, Tesla Germany stated that there has been no significant reduction in permanent staff at its Gigafactory in Grünheide compared with 2024, and that there are no plans to curb production or cut jobs at the facility.
“Compared to 2024, there has been no significant reduction in the number of permanent staff. Nor are there any such plans. Compared to 2024, there has been no significant reduction in the number of permanent staff. Nor are there any such plans,” Tesla noted in an emailed statement.
Tesla Germany also noted that it’s “completely normal” for a facility like Giga Berlin to see fluctuations in its headcount.
A likely explanation
There might be a pretty good reason why Giga Berlin reduced its headcount in 2024. As highlighted by industry watcher Alex Voigt, in April of that year, Elon Musk reduced Tesla’s global workforce by more than 10% as part of an effort to lower costs and improve productivity. At the time, several notable executives departed the company, and the Supercharger team was culled.
As with Tesla’s other factories worldwide, Giga Berlin adjusted staffing during that period as well. This could suggest that a substantial number of the 1,700 employees reported by Handelsblatt were likely part of the workers who were let go by Elon Musk during Tesla’s last major workforce reduction.
In contrast to claims of contraction, Tesla has repeatedly signaled plans to expand production capacity in Germany. Giga Berlin factory manager André Thierig has stated on several occasions that the site is expected to increase output in 2026, reinforcing the idea that the facility’s long-term trajectory remains growth-oriented.
Elon Musk got a brash response from Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary, who said in a press conference on Wednesday afternoon that the Tesla frontman’s criticism of the airline not equipping Starlink has increased bookings for the next few months.
The two have had a continuing feud over the past several weeks after Musk criticized the airline for not using Starlink for its flights, which would enable fast, free, and reliable Wi-Fi on its aircraft.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk trolls budget airline after it refuses Starlink on its planes
Musk said earlier this week that he was entertaining the idea of purchasing Ryanair and putting someone named Ryan in charge, which would oust O’Leary from his position.
However, the barbs continued today, as O’Leary held a press conference, aiming to dispel any beliefs about Starlink and its use case for Ryanair flights, which are typically short in length.
O’Leary said in the press conference today:
“The Starlink people believe that 90% of our passengers would happily pay for wifi access. Our experience tells us less than 10% would pay; He (Elon) called me a retar*ed twat. He would have to join the back of a very, very long queue of people that already think I’m a retar*ed twat, including my four teenage children.”
He then went on to say that, due to Musk’s publicity, bookings for Ryanair flights have increased over the past few days, up 2 to 3 percent:
“But we do want to thank him for the wonderful boost in publicity. Our bookings are up 2-3% in the last few days. So thank you to Mr. Musk, but he’s wrong on the fuel drag. Non-European citizens cannot own a majority of European airlines, but if he wants to invest in Ryanair, we think it would be a very good investment.”
O’Leary didn’t end there, as he called Musk’s social media platform X a “cesspit,” and said he has no concern over becoming a member of it. However, Ryanair has been very active on X for several years, gaining notoriety for being comical and lighthearted.
🚨 Ryanair CEO’s comments on X and Starlink today at the planned presser.
Strange comments here, it just feels like it’s time to end all this crap https://t.co/NYeG95bM82
— TESLARATI (@Teslarati) January 21, 2026
The public spat between the two has definitely benefited Ryanair, and many are calling for it to end, especially those who support Musk, as they see it as a distraction.
Nevertheless, it is likely going to end with no real movement either way, and is more than likely just a bit of hilarity between the two parties that will end in the coming days.
Elon Musk to attend 2026 World Economic Forum at Davos
Tesla states Giga Berlin workforce is stable, rejects media report
