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Tesla Cybertruck is keeping its massive size; now it’s an even better rival to flagship pickups and SUVs
After a significant degree of consideration, CEO Elon Musk has noted that the Tesla Cybertruck will likely be keeping its original physical size. This means that the all-electric pickup will be just as massive and daunting as the prototype that shocked the automotive industry in its unveiling late last year.
Musk’s comments came as a response to a tweet showcasing a clip from an upcoming Jay Leno’s Garage feature, which is currently being promoted by CNBC. The upcoming episode of the popular auto show will be focused on Tesla, and teasers have shown Elon Musk and Jay Leno discussing the Cybertruck, the Roadster, the S3XY line, and even the Semi.
In his recent update, Musk stated that he recently reviewed the design of the Cybertruck with Tesla Design Chief Franz von Holzhausen, and they figured that even a 3% reduction in size to the all-electric pickup would make the vehicle too small. With this in mind, the production version of the Cybertruck will likely be identical in size to the massive prototype that was featured in the vehicle’s unveiling late last year.
Musk did note that this would likely mean that Tesla will be releasing a smaller truck sometime in the near future. This could actually be strategic for Tesla considering that veteran truck makers such as Ford have both full-sized trucks such as the F-150 and smaller pickups like the Ranger. The Cybertruck will be a rival to the F-150, but Tesla has no response to the Ranger, and the market for midsize trucks is significant as well.
While the Cybertruck’s massive size will likely result in the vehicle being too large for some American garages, Musk’s decision to keep the pickup’s dimensions identical to the prototype would mean that it will be comparable to some of America’s most popular pickups and SUVs. This is because the American market is quite fond of large vehicles, and this has resulted in flagship trucks and SUVs getting bigger by the year.
A survey from USA Today has determined that the drive for bigger vehicles in the United States has started bumping into the physical limitations of American homes and garages. Jeff Dyke, president of Sonic Automotive, one of the largest automotive dealership networks in the US, described this trend in a statement to the publication.
“The next-generation Suburban is gonna be so big – my wife drives one – you’re not going to be able to park it in the garage. The Tahoe is the new Suburban, and the new Suburban is a school bus.” Dyke said. Despite this, Americans want large vehicles, as indicated by the demand for full-sized trucks and SUVs. “Gas prices are low, they’re reasonable, and the country’s in love with SUVs,” he added.
These challenges associated with large vehicle sizes do not appear to be adversely affecting the pickup and SUV market, or at least not as much. Both segments remain popular, and they do not seem to be poised to drop anytime, either. Instead of stopping the purchase of these vehicles, consumers in the United States have responded to this trend by simply parking their trucks and SUVs on their driveways.
This presents some challenges, of course, since exposing vehicles to the elements means that their paint may get damaged, among other things. Vehicles left outside are prone to getting punished by the elements, which is bad news if they are exposed to things like hail. As it happens, the Cybertruck actually addresses these factors, as the vehicle appears to be designed to be parked outside.
In previous tweets, Musk has stated that the vehicle will have an option where its motorized tonneau cover is fitted with solar panels, allowing the Cybertruck to charge its batteries while it’s parked outside. The all-electric pickup is also unpainted, which means that it can take a lot of punishment without flinching. Musk even noted recently that the Cybertruck would pretty much be impervious to hail, on account of its steel body and Armor Glass.
Elon Musk
Elon Musk’s Boring Company signs deal to begin Dubai Loop project
The project marks the Boring Company’s first tunneling project outside the United States.
Elon Musk’s Boring Company has signed a definitive agreement with Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority to begin implementing the Dubai Loop.
The project marks the Boring Company’s first tunneling project outside the United States.
The Boring Company signs Dubai Loop agreement
The Boring Company signed a partnership agreement with Dubai Roads and Transport Authority on the sidelines of the World Governments Summit 2026 to start the implementation of the Dubai Loop, as per the tunneling startup in a blog post.
The agreement was signed on behalf of Dubai RTA by Mattar Al Tayer, director general and chairman of the Board of Executive Directors, and on behalf of The Boring Company by James Fitzgerald, the startup’s global vice president of business development. Senior officials from both organizations were present at the signing ceremony.
The Dubai Loop project is intended to improve passenger mobility in high-density urban areas through underground vehicle tunnels designed for faster construction and lower surface disruption than conventional transport systems.
Pilot route and project scope outlined
The first phase of the Dubai Loop will consist of a 4-mile (6.4 km) pilot route with four stations linking the Dubai International Financial Centre and Dubai Mall. The pilot phase is expected to pave the way for a full network extending up to 14 miles (22.5 km) with 19 stations connecting the Dubai World Trade Centre, the financial district, and Business Bay.
The tunnels will have a diameter of 12 feet (3.6 meters) and will be dedicated to vehicle transport. Construction will rely on tunneling methods designed to reduce costs and minimize disruption to existing infrastructure.
The pilot phase is estimated to cost about $154 million, with delivery expected roughly one year after design work and preparatory activities are completed. The full Dubai Loop network is projected to cost approximately $545 million and would take around three years to implement.
Capacity targets and next steps
Mattar Al Tayer shared his excitement about the project, stating that the Loop system will be a qualitative addition to the city’s transportation system. “The project represents a qualitative addition to Dubai’s transport ecosystem, as it enhances integration between different mobility modes and provides flexible and efficient first- and last-mile solutions.
“Studies have demonstrated the project’s efficiency in terms of capacity and operating costs, with the pilot route expected to serve around 13,000 passengers per day, while the full route is projected to have a total capacity of approximately 30,000 passengers per day,” he said.
Steve Davis, president of The Boring Company, highlighted that the partnership aims to deliver safe and efficient tunneling solutions aligned with Dubai’s long-term mobility strategy.
“We are proud to partner with the Roads and Transport Authority, one of the world’s leading entities in adopting innovative solutions in the transport sector. Through this partnership, we look forward to delivering advanced, safe, and highly efficient tunnelling solutions that support Dubai’s vision for sustainable and future mobility,” Davis stated.
Tesla executive Sendil Palani confirmed in a post on social media platform X that Full Self-Driving, despite being the most robust driver assistance program in the United States, still isn’t garnering any interest from lagging competitors.
Tesla has said on several occasions in the past that it has had discussions with a competing carmaker to license its Full Self-Driving suite. While it never confirmed which company it was, many pointed toward Ford as the one Tesla was holding dialogue with.
At the time, Ford CEO Jim Farley and Tesla CEO Elon Musk had a very cordial relationship.
Despite Tesla’s confirmation, which occurred during both the Q2 2023 and Q1 2024 Earnings Calls, no deal was ever reached. Whichever “major OEM” Tesla had talked to did not see the benefit. Even now, Tesla has not found that dance partner, despite leading every company in the U.S. in self-driving efforts by a considerable margin.
Elon Musk says Tesla Robotaxi launch will force companies to license Full Self-Driving
Palani seemed to confirm that Tesla still has not found any company that is remotely interested in licensing FSD, as he said on X that “despite our best efforts to share the technology,” the company has found that it “has not been proven to be easy.”
Licensing FSD has not proven to be easy, despite our best efforts to share the technology. https://t.co/VGYBU7Aduw
— Sendil Palani (@sendilpalani) February 3, 2026
The question came just after one Tesla fan on X asked whether Tesla would continue manufacturing vehicles.
Because Tesla continues to expand its lineup of Model Y, it has plans to build the Cybercab, and there is still an immediate need for passenger vehicles, there is no question that the company plans to continue scaling its production.
However, Palani’s response is interesting, especially considering that it was in response to the question of whether Tesla would keep building cars.
Perhaps if Tesla could license Full Self-Driving to enough companies for the right price, it could simply sell the suite to car companies that are building vehicles, eliminating the need for Tesla to build its own.
While it seems like a reach because of Tesla’s considerable fan base, which is one of the most loyal in the automotive industry, the company could eventually bail on manufacturing and gain an incredible valuation by simply unlocking self-driving for other manufacturers.
The big question regarding why Tesla can’t find another company to license FSD is simply, “Why?”
Do they think they can solve it themselves? Do they not find FSD as valuable or effective? Many of these same companies didn’t bat an eye when Tesla started developing EVs, only to find themselves years behind. This could be a continuing trend.
Tesla executive Lars Moravy appeared today in front of the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee to highlight the importance of modernizing autonomy standards by establishing a federal framework that would reward innovation and keep the country on pace with foreign rivals.
Moravy, who is Tesla’s Vice President of Vehicle Engineering, strongly advocated for Congress to enact a national framework for autonomous vehicle development and deployment, replacing the current patchwork of state-by-state rules.
These rules have slowed progress and kept companies fighting tooth-and-nail with local legislators to operate self-driving projects in controlled areas.
Tesla already has a complete Robotaxi model, and it doesn’t depend on passenger count
Moravy said the new federal framework was essential for the U.S. to “maintain its position in global technological development and grow its advanced manufacturing capabilities.
He also said in a warning to the committee that outdated regulations and approval processes would “inhibit the industry’s ability to innovate,” which could potentially lead to falling behind China.
Being part of the company leading the charge in terms of autonomous vehicle development in the U.S., Moravy highlighted Tesla’s prowess through the development of the Full Self-Driving platform. Tesla vehicles with FSD engaged average 5.1 million miles before a major collision, which outpaces that of the human driver average of roughly 699,000 miles.
Moravy also highlighted the widely cited NHTSA statistic that states that roughly 94 percent of crashes stem from human error, positioning autonomous vehicles as a path to dramatically reduce fatalities and injuries.
🚨 Tesla VP of Vehicle Engineering, Lars Moravy, appeared today before the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee to discuss the importance of outlining an efficient framework for autonomous vehicles:
— TESLARATI (@Teslarati) February 4, 2026
Skeptics sometimes point to cybersecurity concerns within self-driving vehicles, which was something that was highlighted during the Senate Commerce Committee hearing, but Moravy said, “No one has ever been able to take over control of our vehicles.”
This level of security is thanks to a core-embedded central layer, which is inaccessible from external connections. Additionally, Tesla utilizes a dual cryptographic signature from two separate individuals, keeping security high.
Moravy also dove into Tesla’s commitment to inclusive mobility by stating, “We are committed with our future products and Robotaxis to provide accessible transportation to everyone.” This has been a major point of optimism for AVs because it could help the disabled, physically incapable, the elderly, and the blind have consistent transportation.
Overall, Moravy’s testimony blended urgency about geopolitical competition, especially China, with concrete safety statistics and a vision of the advantages autonomy could bring for everyone, not only in the U.S., but around the world, as well.
Elon Musk’s Boring Company signs deal to begin Dubai Loop project
Tesla confirms Full Self-Driving still isn’t garnering interest from lagging competitors
