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Tesla Cybertruck not a “real truck?” What Musk’s “Blade Runner” pickup must do to get truckers’ acceptance
Late last month, a study conducted by AmericanTrucks revealed that about 6 out of 10 truck owners did not consider the Tesla Cybertruck a “real truck.” This was unfortunate, but it is also not surprising. The Cybertruck, after all, is so different compared to other pickups in the market, and much of its real-world capabilities are yet to be proven.
While electric sedans and SUVs have become a common sight on American roads thanks to the popularity of vehicles like the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y, the electric pickup truck market is still pretty much in its infancy. Today, there are only a few electric trucks available, such as the Rivian R1T, the Ford F-150 Lightning, and the GMC Hummer EV. The Cybertruck, provided that Tesla’s initial production plans are followed, is likely next in line.
Perhaps one of the reasons behind the results of the survey is the fact that the Cybertruck has not been released just yet. The truck has attracted a lot of attention over the years, but most of it has been online, where Tesla already has a strong presence. In real-world roads and among those who really use pickup trucks for their utility, the Cybertruck is still a big question mark.
Once Tesla actually ramps the Cybertruck’s production and American streets are populated by the vehicle, the situation would likely change. This was why Paul Knoll, Marketing Director at Turn5, the operating firm behind AmericanTrucks, told Teslarati that the Cybertruck could eventually be accepted by truckers as a legitimate truck. It just needs to prove that it could stand toe-to-toe, or perhaps even exceed, comparable trucks that are in the market today.
“We all have style preferences when looking for a new vehicle, and the Cybertruck has an interesting aesthetic. With the unconventional shape and interesting truck bed, some drivers may not feel like it looks like a traditional truck. Truck drivers are used to the traditional truck body, and now that Tesla is making something completely different from what they are used to, it might just take some time to adjust. What will really matter to truck owners is how it performs.”
“With truck drivers used to a certain body type for their trucks, Tesla may have to just let the product speak for itself. If the Cybertruck blows away expectations during testing, that will help convince those who are unsure about it. But the Cybertruck isn’t just for truck drivers. It’s also for people who care about the environment and want to help protect it,” Knoll said.
At least on paper, the Cybertruck will definitely have what it takes to make an impact in the United States’ pickup truck market. Tesla just has to ensure that the vehicle is compelling enough that it could persuade enough people to try it out. This way, even those who are on the fence would be willing to give it a chance. That was pretty much what happened with Tesla’s breakthrough vehicles like the Model S and Model 3. Both vehicles were made to be the best in their segment, electric or otherwise, and it paid off in spades.
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Tesla has not released the final specs of the Cybertruck, but during its unveiling, it was listed with a number of impressive stats. These include a 500-mile range, 14,000 pounds of towing capacity, and the capability to carry 3,500 pounds of payload. It would be fitted with notable features such as a “vault” storage at the rear and a generous frunk as well. Rear wheel steering will also be standard on the Cybertruck, as per reports following the company’s Investor Day event.
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Elon Musk has updated his timeline for when humans will walk on Mars and for when ships will simply get there.
The objective of getting to Mars has been one of Musk’s biggest goals since becoming a serial entrepreneur and realizing that time on Earth is limited. Musk has said several times he hopes to die on Mars, and not by impact.
Musk now believes that people will be on Mars in “roughly 5 to 7 years.” He said that a Mars lander will get there “a few years sooner.”
People on Mars in roughly 5 to 7 years.
Mars lander a few years sooner.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 29, 2026
The response from Musk comes after NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said that SpaceX’s biggest priority is the Moon and not Mars. Because of this, Isaacman conceded that he believes nuclear power and propulsion investments will provide “potentially the pathway with the fewest miracles required to put four people on Mars in the next 10 to 15 years.”
Of course, this is what NASA can do through taxpayer funding and nuclear investments, he added.
Musk’s grand ambitions are much more optimistic than most, and it is certainly a double-edged sword. This is not the first time timelines for Mars have been somewhat lofty, especially to those normal thinkers like you and me, not super geniuses like Musk.
In fact, the SpaceX and Tesla frontman has said on at least a dozen occasions that we could be on Mars in the coming years. Musk said 2020 would be the big year as early as 2009. In 2020, he was “highly confident” of a landing in 2026, and had even said 2024 in a best-case scenario.
The point is, the range has varied, and it’s anyone’s guess when we’ll get there. This latest adjustment to the timeline is typical of Musk, and while the Moon has seemingly taken priority over Mars, it is still worth mentioning that the ultimate goal is to make life multiplanetary, and it starts potentially with the Red Planet.
SpaceX (NASDAQ: SPCX) got an absolutely crazy price target rating from Raymond James after the company experienced a tough first few weeks following its Initial Public Offering (IPO).
Despite the tumultuous start, SpaceX has plenty of believers, and the company’s massively successful Starship launch last Friday, its 13th test flight of the massive rocket, went so smoothly that Raymond James analysts pushed its price target on the company to roughly 7 times its current trading level.
SpaceX Starship just nailed something it’s never done before
The firm officially put a “Strong Buy” rating and an $800 price target on the stock. It currently trades at around $113. Its all-time high is $225.64, reaching this trading level shortly after shares first went public.
Raymond James’ price target is tied to the firm’s confidence after Starship’s 13th test flight. Analysts at the firm said it was an incremental step that reduces engineering risks, citing the widely successful heat shield test that CEO Elon Musk recently detailed, the smooth deployment of Starlink V3 satellites, and a successful in-space engine relight.
SpaceX also managed to see Starship splash down safely in the Indian Ocean, while the Super Heavy Booster fell down to the Gulf of America with no incidents.
It is interesting to see these launches have such a tremendous impact on the stock and what investors think of it. After SpaceX initially delayed the Starship launch last week, shares fell tremendously. Most probably did not realize that the stand-down is a standard practice, especially if everything is not perfect.
The mission was initially aborted due to an issue with Raptor engines. This was resolved, and Starship launched last Friday after another delay on Thursday, which was caused by weather.
Now that analysts have seen what SpaceX launches are capable of and how impressive the feat is, firms are adjusting their price targets accordingly, making it known that they have high expectations for the space exploration company.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk has responded to reports that Volvo is officially discontinuing the LiDAR sensor on two of its cars.
Volvo announced that it would officially scrap LiDAR systems on its EX90 and ES90 vehicles in various markets. In Norway, owners will get a €1,800 compensation for features that will never arrive due to this decision. There will be no option to remove the unit from vehicles, either.
The issue stems from Volvo’s supplier, Luminar, and its bankruptcy filing. Luminar will no longer be able to supply LiDAR units to Volvo for the EX90 and ES90, effectively axing any use the unit has on vehicles. Volvo will phase out the data collection processes via the LiDAR system, and it will not be utilized whatsoever.
Musk saw the story on X and responded, stating:
“I did try to warn them. Humans drive using neural nets and optical sensors. Same is true for robot cars.”
I did try to warn them.
Humans drive using neural nets and optical sensors. Same is true for robot cars.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 29, 2026
Musk has been publicly vocal about his disdain for LiDAR systems, once calling them “a fool’s errand,” as he has consistently kept the outlook that they are not needed for effective self-driving.
The typical example used as evidence for this by Musk is humans themselves: made with only eyes and memories, humans are capable of navigating a car by using what they can see and what they’ve personally experienced on the road.
Elon Musk argues lidar and radar make self driving cars more dangerous
“Same is true for robot cars,” Musk says, as Teslas have eight exterior cameras that help see everything surrounding the vehicle, and a neural network that analyzes behavior and tendencies with every mile driven.
Tesla is a vision-only self-driving company that ditched sensors and radar several years ago in favor of cameras. Behind this effort, the company has established a reputation for having one of the most robust self-driving platforms in the world.
Musk’s big bet with Tesla on its self-driving program’s strategy has widely paid off. Other companies continue to utilize things like LiDAR, radar, and sensors for effective self-driving, but Tesla has shown that there is more than one way to give consumers a strong and accurate driver assistance suite.
The real question is: who will be the first company to take Musk’s advice and attempt a self-driving platform based on cameras only, or even license FSD for themselves?
Elon Musk updates the SpaceX timeline for Mars
SpaceX gets an absolutely crazy price target after rough IPO
