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Tesla Cybertruck first delivery event: What we’re expecting

Credit: Cybertruck/X

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The Tesla Cybertruck unveiling is just a few hours away. Social media posts indicate that attendees are now gathering in Texas. Even Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who recently made headlines after a fiery and controversial interview at The New York Times DealBook Summit, has been pretty quiet on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. 

Needless to say, the anticipation surrounding the Cybertruck is discernible. Quite impressively, Tesla has actually been able to keep pretty much every important detail about the Cybertruck a secret. Even the details of the vehicle’s unveiling event have been kept under wraps, with invites only including a general schedule for the occasion. 

Elon Musk, however, has made it no secret that the Cybertruck’s delivery event is among Tesla’s most important. In his DealBook Summit interview, Musk went so far as to state that the Cybertruck launch would be the “biggest on Earth this year.” These statements definitely give the impression that the Cybertruck’s delivery event is an important occasion — one that could make Tesla into an event more notable company today. 

Amidst all this excitement, we at Teslarati are expecting a number of highlights from the upcoming Cybertruck first delivery event. Here then are the top five things we are hoping to see in the Cybertruck launch. 

Specs and more specs

Tesla has done a stellar job of keeping the Cybertruck’s specs under wraps. Despite the large number of Cybertruck sightings over the past months, practically no leaks about the all-electric pickup truck’s key information have been shared online. In the upcoming event, Tesla will most definitely share the specifications of the Cybertruck, from its range to its performance, special features, and accessories. 

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Steel Ball Test 2.0

The Tesla Cybertruck unveiling became meme-worthy partly due to the failed steel ball test conducted by CEO Elon Musk and Chief Designer Franz von Holzhausen. The Cybertruck’s Armor Glass cracked when it was struck by the ball during the test, much to the shock of the audience and Musk himself. Tesla later clarified that the Cybertruck’s window was damaged by an earlier sledgehammer test, but the failed steel ball test was already immortalized in internet memes by then. 

In a way, the Cybertruck’s steel ball test is unfinished business for Tesla and executives like Elon Musk. Thus, it would not be surprising if the EV maker conducts another steel ball test during the upcoming Cybertruck first delivery event. Hopefully, the test succeeds this time around.

Future Feature Teasers

Tesla is known for having industry-leading tech and features on its vehicles. The company is also known for announcing features that will be rolled out at a later date. This was the case with the Tesla Semi, whose Convoy Mode, which was announced in late 2017, is still yet to be released to consumers’ trucks today. Being Tesla’s newest and potentially most disruptive car to date, the Cybertruck will likely be announced with some notable features, some of which will also be released in the future. 

Other Trim Details

When the Cybertruck was initially unveiled, Elon Musk noted that the all-electric pickup truck would come in three trims: a single-motor RWD version, a Dual Motor AWD variant, and a Tri-Motor AWD version. Elon Musk also hinted at a potential Quad-Motor variant later on, though details about the potential trim have been scarce. In the upcoming Cybertruck delivery event, Tesla would likely clarify the all-electric pickup truck’s final lineup, as well as each trim’s target release date. 

Test Rides

Tesla held test rides with the Cybertruck when it was unveiled in late 2019. Considering that the vehicle is now ready for consumers, it would also not be surprising if Tesla offers test rides in the production Cybertruck for the first delivery event’s attendees. Test rides would likely be appreciated by the event’s attendees, as it would provide them with a firsthand experience with the all-electric pickup truck. 

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Don’t hesitate to contact us with news tips. Just send a message to simon@teslarati.com to give us a heads up.

Simon is an experienced automotive reporter with a passion for electric cars and clean energy. Fascinated by the world envisioned by Elon Musk, he hopes to make it to Mars (at least as a tourist) someday. For stories or tips--or even to just say a simple hello--send a message to his email, simon@teslarati.com or his handle on X, @ResidentSponge.

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Tesla launches its new branded Supercharger for Business with first active station

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Credit: Tesla

Tesla has officially launched its first branded Supercharger just months after initiating a new program that allows third-party companies to brand their own charging piles.

The site opened in Land O’ Lakes, Florida, and features eight V4 Supercharging stalls offering up to 325 kW of charging speed. It appears it was purchased by a company called Suncoast Credit Union. This particular branch is located Northeast of Tampa, which is on the Gulf of Mexico.

It features graphics of Florida animals, like alligators:

Tesla launched this program back in September, and it basically was a way to expand its Supercharger presence and also allow companies to pay for the infrastructure. Tesla maintains it. When it announced the “Supercharger for Business,” it said:

“Purchase and install Superchargers at your business. Superchargers are compatible with all electric vehicles, bringing EV drivers to your business by offering convenient, reliable charging.”

The program does a few things. Initially, it expands EV charging infrastructure and makes charging solutions more readily available for drivers. It can also attract people to those businesses specifically.

Tesla launches new Supercharger program that business owners will love

The chargers can also be branded with any logo that the business chooses, which makes them more personalized and also acts as an advertisement.

The best part is that the customers do not have to maintain anything about the Supercharger. Tesla still takes care of it and resolves any issues:

“We treat your site like we treat our sites. By providing you with a full-service package that includes network operations, preventative maintenance, and driver support, we’re able to guarantee 97% uptime–the highest in the industry.”

It appears the Superchargers will also appear within the in-car nav during routing, so they’ll be publicly available to anyone who needs to use them. They are still available to all EVs that have worked with Tesla to utilize its infrastructure, and they are not restricted to people who are only visiting the business.

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Cybertruck

Tesla reveals its Cybertruck light bar installation fix

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u/Kruzat, see page for license, via Wikimedia Commons

Tesla has revealed its Cybertruck light bar installation fix after a recall exposed a serious issue with the accessory.

Tesla and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) initiated a recall of 6,197 Cybertrucks back in October to resolve an issue with the Cybertruck light bar accessory. It was an issue with the adhesive that was provided by a Romanian company called Hella Romania S.R.L.

Tesla recalls 6,197 Cybertrucks for light bar adhesive issue

The issue was with the primer quality, as the recall report from the NHTSA had stated the light bar had “inadvertently attached to the windshield using the incorrect surface primer.”

Instead of trying to adhere the light bar to the Cybertruck with an adhesive, Tesla is now going to attach it with a bracketing system, which will physically mount it to the vehicle instead of relying on adhesive strips or glue.

Tesla outlines this in its new Service Bulletin, labeled SB-25-90-001, (spotted by Not a Tesla App) where it shows the light bar will be remounted more securely:

The entire process will take a few hours, but it can be completed by the Mobile Service techs, so if you have a Cybertruck that needs a light bar adjustment, it can be done without taking the vehicle to the Service Center for repair.

However, the repair will only happen if there is no delamination or damage present; then Tesla could “retrofit the service-installed optional off-road light bar accessory with a positive mechanical attachment.”

The company said it would repair the light bar at no charge to customers. The light bar issue was one that did not result in any accidents or injuries, according to the NHTSA’s report.

This was the third recall on Cybertruck this year, as one was highlighted in March for exterior trim panels detaching during operation. Another had to do with front parking lights being too bright, which was fixed with an Over-the-Air update last month.

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Tesla is already expanding its Rental program aggressively

The program has already launched in a handful of locations, specifically, it has been confined to California for now. However, it does not seem like Tesla has any interest in keeping it restricted to the Golden State.

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Credit: Grok

Tesla is looking to expand its Rental Program aggressively, just weeks after the program was first spotted on its Careers website.

Earlier this month, we reported on Tesla’s intention to launch a crazy new Rental program with cheap daily rates, which would give people in various locations the opportunity to borrow a vehicle in the company’s lineup with some outrageous perks.

Along with the cheap rates that start at about $60 per day, Tesla also provides free Full Self-Driving operation and free Supercharging for the duration of the rental. There are also no limits on mileage or charging, but the terms do not allow the renter to leave the state from which they are renting.

The program has already launched in a handful of locations, specifically, it has been confined to California for now. However, it does not seem like Tesla has any interest in keeping it restricted to the Golden State.

Job postings from Tesla now show it is planning to launch the Rental program in at least three new states: Texas, Tennessee, and Massachusetts.

The jobs specifically are listed as a Rental Readiness Specialist, which lists the following job description:

“The Tesla Rental Program is looking for a Rental Readiness Specialist to work on one of the most progressive vehicle brands in the world. The Rental Readiness Specialist is a key contributor to the Tesla experience by coordinating the receipt of incoming new and used vehicle inventory. This position is responsible for fleet/lot management, movement of vehicles, vehicle readiness, rental invoicing, and customer hand-off. Candidates must have a high level of accountability, and personal satisfaction in doing a great job.”

It also says that those who take the position will have to charge and clean the cars, work with clients on scheduling pickups and drop-offs, and prepare the paperwork necessary to initiate the rental.

The establishment of a Rental program is big for Tesla because it not only gives people the opportunity to experience the vehicles, but it is also a new way to rent a car.

Just as the Tesla purchasing process is more streamlined and more efficient than the traditional car-buying experience, it seems this could be less painful and a new way to borrow a car for a trip instead of using your own.

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