There are only a few days left before the Tesla Cybertruck’s first deliveries, and in an apparent effort to generate more attention for the vehicle, the EV maker has brought its all-electric pickup truck to several of its physical stores. The public’s reaction has been very notable.
Tesla bulls such as The Future Fund Managing Partner Gary Black have noted that the Cybertruck will have a “halo effect” of sorts for the electric vehicle maker. This suggests that even those who will not be purchasing the Cybertruck may end up purchasing one of the company’s other electric cars because their attention was captured by the all-electric pickup truck.
Over the past few days, this does seem to be the case. In social media posts, electric vehicle advocates and Tesla community members shared photos and images of Cybertruck displays that were attracting quite a lot of interest from visitors. Such a reaction bodes well for the Cybertruck, as it hints that the vehicle really is an attention-grabbing product.
The following are some of the posts shared by electric vehicle enthusiasts about Tesla’s Cybertruck displays.
$TSLA halo effect. https://t.co/n12vWwXxQA— Gary Black (@garyblack00) November 25, 2023
People go check out Cybertruck. It does attract eyeballs for some reason. pic.twitter.com/GQYvTuvjwo— Ray (@ray4tesla) November 25, 2023
The Cybertruck is FŮĊĶING INSANE!
I just left the Bellevue Square @Tesla showroom. It was packed with curious mall goers and fans.
The Cybertruck looked like it was ready for mass production. This is my third time seeing one in person and I could not see any flaws in this… pic.twitter.com/bk31FmiYHJ— Matthew Donegan-Ryan (@MatthewDR) November 27, 2023
I just saw the Tesla Cybertruck in person for the first time and it did not disappoint! Any photos and videos you see online doesn't do it justice.
Much more impressive in person.
One of the Tesla employees at the showroom said that anyone with a reservation number starting… pic.twitter.com/nPUFV7ocur— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) November 27, 2023
Anyone that underestimates the ripple effect the Cybertruck will have on accelerating the world’s transition to sustainable energy, are all about to be shell shocked. This is the best product that Tesla has ever created & people absolutely fuckin love it. pic.twitter.com/VoiNTVgnxi— Teslaconomics (@Teslaconomics) November 25, 2023
The Cybertruck hype is for real and anyone standing on the other side of change will probably get run over pic.twitter.com/xoqMXAqmmv— Teslaconomics (@Teslaconomics) November 26, 2023
The attention surrounding the Cybertruck seemingly echoes the interest that surrounded the Tesla Model 3 prior to its unveiling. At the time, Tesla was only delivering the Model S sedan and the Model X SUV, so the company was not considered a mass-market car manufacturer yet. The Model 3 was the electric car maker’s first mass-market car, and EV enthusiasts were so hyped about the product that some stood in line for hours just to reserve the vehicle. Later Model 3 displays also attracted a lot of attention.
Needless to say, the EV market has changed a lot since the Model 3 was unveiled. But despite the electric car segment being far more mature now, one could not help but feel like the Cybertruck is indeed yet another Model 3 or Model Y moment for Tesla. Sure, it’s just another EV that just happens to be designed differently compared to others in its segment. But considering the consumer interest it is already drumming up today, it does seem like Tesla is about to capture lightning in a bottle once more with the Cybertruck.
The Tesla Cybertruck is expected to have its first delivery event at Giga Texas this November 30, 2023.
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Tesla Cybercab display highlights interior wizardry in the small two-seater
Photos and videos of the production Cybercab were shared in posts on social media platform X.
The Tesla Cybercab is currently on display at the U.S. Department of Transportation in Washington, D.C., and observations of the production vehicle are highlighting some of its notable design details.
Photos and videos of the production Cybercab were shared in posts on social media platform X.
Observers of the Cybercab display unit noted that the two-seat Robotaxi provides unusually generous legroom for a vehicle of its size. Based on the vehicle’s video, the compact two-seater appears to offer more legroom than Tesla’s larger vehicles such as the Model Y, Model X, and Cybertruck.
The Cybercab’s layout allows Tesla to dedicate nearly the entire cabin to passengers. The vehicle is designed without a steering wheel or pedals, which helps maximize interior space.
Footage from the display also highlights the Cybercab’s large center screen, which is positioned prominently in front of the passenger bench. The display appears intended to provide entertainment and ride information while the vehicle operates autonomously.
Images of the vehicle also show an additional camera integrated into the Cybercab’s C-pillar. The extra camera appears to expand the vehicle’s field of view, which would be useful as Tesla works toward fully unsupervised Full Self-Driving.
Tesla engineers have previously explained that the Cybercab was designed to be highly efficient both in manufacturing and in operation. Cybercab Lead Engineer Eric E. stated in 2024 that the Robotaxi would be built with roughly half the number of parts used in a Model 3 sedan.
“Two seats unlocks a lot of opportunity aerodynamically. It also means we cut the part count of Cybercab down by a substantial margin. We’re gonna be delivering a car that has roughly half the parts of Model 3 today,” the Tesla engineer said.
The Tesla engineer also noted that the Cybercab’s cargo area can accommodate multiple golf bags, two carry-on suitcases, and two full-size checked bags. The trunk can also fit certain bicycles and a foldable wheelchair depending on size, which is quite impressive for a small car like the Cybercab.
Elon Musk
Elon Musk’s xAI wins permit for power plant supporting AI data centers
The development was reported by CNBC, citing confirmation from the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ).
Mississippi regulators have approved a permit allowing Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence company xAI to construct a natural gas power plant in Southaven. The facility is expected to support the company’s expanding AI infrastructure tied to its Colossus data center operations near Memphis.
The development was reported by CNBC, citing confirmation from the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ).
According to the report, regulators “voted to approve the permit” of xAI subsidiary MZX Tech LLC to construct a power plant featuring 41 natural gas-burning turbines “after careful consideration of all public comments and community concerns.”
The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality stated that the permit followed a regulatory review process that included public comments and community input. Jaricus Whitlock, air division chief for the MDEQ, stated that the project met all applicable environmental standards.
“The proposed PSD permit in front of the board today not only meets all state and federal permitting regulations, but goes above and beyond what is required by law. MDEQ and the EPA agree that not a single person around our facilities will be exposed to unhealthy levels of air pollution,” Whitlock stated.
The planned facility will help provide electricity for xAI’s AI computing infrastructure in the Memphis region.
The Southaven project forms part of xAI’s efforts to scale computing capacity for its artificial intelligence systems.
The company currently operates two major data centers in Memphis, known as Colossus 1 and Colossus 2, which provide computing power for xAI’s Grok AI models. xAI is also planning to build another large data center in Southaven called Macrohardrr, which would be located in a warehouse previously used by GXO Logistics.
Large-scale AI training requires substantial computing power and electricity, prompting technology companies to develop dedicated energy infrastructure for their data centers.
SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell previously stated that xAI plans to develop 1.2 gigawatts of power capacity for its Memphis-area AI supercomputer site as part of the federal government’s Ratepayer Protection Pledge. The commitment was announced during an event with United States President Donald Trump.
“As part of today’s commitment, we will take extensive additional steps to continue to reduce the costs of electricity for our neighbors. xAI will therefore commit to develop 1.2 GW of power as our supercomputer’s primary power source. That will be for every additional data center as well. We will expand what is already the largest global Megapack power installation in the world,” Shotwell said.
“The installation will provide enough backup power to power the city of Memphis, and more than sufficient energy to power the town of Southaven, Mississippi where the data center resides. We will build new substations and invest in electrical infrastructure to provide stability to the area’s grid.”
Elon Musk
Tesla China teases Optimus robot’s human-looking next-gen hands
The image was shared by Tesla AI’s account on Weibo and later reposted by Tesla community members on X.
A new teaser shared by Tesla’s China team appears to show a pair of unusually human-like hands for Optimus.
The image was shared by Tesla AI’s account on Weibo and later reposted by Tesla community members on X.
As could be seen in the teaser image, the new version of Optimus’ hands features proportions and finger structures that look strikingly similar to those of a human hand. Their appearance suggests that they might have dexterity approaching that of a human hand.
If the image reflects a new generation of Optimus’ hands, it could indicate Tesla is continuing to refine one of the most critical components of its humanoid robot.
Hands are widely viewed as one of the most difficult engineering challenges in robotics. For Optimus to perform complex real-world work, from manufacturing tasks to household activities, its hands would need to be the best in the industry.
Elon Musk has repeatedly described Optimus as Tesla’s most important long-term product. In posts on social media platform X, Musk has stated that Optimus could eventually become the first real-world Von Neumann machine.
In theory, a Von Neumann machine is a self-replicating system capable of building copies of itself using available materials. The concept was originally proposed by mathematician John von Neumann in the mid-20th century.
“Optimus will be the first Von Neumann machine, capable of building civilization by itself on any viable planet,” Musk wrote in a post on X.
If Optimus is expected to carry out complex work autonomously in the future, high levels of dexterity will likely be essential. This makes the development of advanced robotic hands a key step towards Musk’s long-term expectations for the product.