Connect with us

Lifestyle

On the Shoulder of Giants: How the Tesla Cybertruck’s ambitious camper is willing itself into being

Credit: Stream It

Published

on

The Cyberlandr, an ambitious, ultra-high-tech, ultra-compact, premium camper for the Tesla Cybertruck, broke out to much attention and even some acclaim when it debuted last month. Promising a full camper experience in an incredibly compact and attractive package, the Cyberlandr seemed like the perfect companion for the Tesla Cybertruck. It takes a hyper-futuristic camper to match a cyberpunk pickup truck that looks like it’s from the future, after all. 

It did not take long before the hype surrounding the Cyberlandr translated into potential sales. Granted, the transforming pop-up camper was priced at a premium at about $50,000 per unit, but for some Cybertruck reservation holders, the expense was worth it. Just days after its unveiling, the Cyberlandr accumulated $50 million worth of pre-orders, and after a few days more, $60 million. Considering the price of the camper, that’s about 1,350 reservations from Cybertruck buyers. 

But inasmuch as the Cyberlandr is exciting, the road to actually producing the transforming camper is steep. Stream It, the company behind Cyberlandr, is a software firm that specializes in AI-enhanced video analytics. Over the years, Stream It has created software products that are capable of gathering and analyzing video data in real-time. The company has some experience in hardware, but only on components such as computer modules. Never has it attempted such a complex product such as the Cyberlandr. 

This has led to a healthy dose of skepticism surrounding the Cyberlandr, which promises to provide a sink, kitchen, living area, and bathroom with shower in a camper that fits on the 6.5-foot bed of the Cybertruck. While a lot of the Cyberlandr’s features such as its auto-dimming windows and floor heaters rely on Stream It’s software prowess, skeptics have shared concerns about the camper being too complex, or too ambitious, to become an actual feasible product. 

Credit: Stream It

Willing a Dream Into Reality

During a conversation with Teslarati, Stream It Founder and Chief Analytics Officer Bill French, who holds a Cybertruck reservation himself, explained that while the task of producing the Cyberlandr is indeed complex, he believes that Stream It has a good chance of pulling it off. This is because ultimately, campers, even those as ambitious as the Cyberlandr, are nowhere near as complex as a whole electric car.  

“We’re not building the truck. We’re building an add-in to the truck. Add-ins fall into a different class. It’s a smaller, more constrained environment. We only have to worry about that which sits in the truck. That’s not to say that it’s not complex. It is an advanced add-in, but it’s not as complex as the truck,” French said.

Advertisement

Stream It CEO and Tesla Model 3 Performance owner Lance King notes that this is what will separate Cyberlandr from other ambitious projects that have fizzled out, or worse, unraveled. The electric vehicle sector has witnessed such events over the past year, with some companies that were once considered darlings of the sustainability segment falling from grace in a rapid and shocking manner. King noted that the best thing Cyberlandr could do is to simply be honest about what it can already accomplish, and what it needs help with. 

“We’re trying to be honest and open with where we’re at instead of pretending we got more than what we have. That’s a great place to start. We’re also humble enough to say we don’t have deep expertise in certain areas, so we’re partnering with people who do. So we’ve partnered with designers and engineers and even Munro and Associates on setting up the factory. And we’re making great progress with them,” King said. 

A Straight Path

Munro and Associates, led by automotive veteran Sandy Munro, has become one of the EV sector’s most trusted voices. With his expertise in lean design and engineering, Munro and his team have helped companies, including Tesla, optimize products like the Model 3 and Model Y. Stream It decided to take a more proactive approach when it reached out to Munro’s team. Instead of making mistakes and having Munro analyze ways to address and solve them, the software firm is aiming to get the automotive veteran’s go signal even before the production of the Cyberlandr begins. This is especially notable as Munro’s team is being tapped to help design not only the Cyberlandr itself, but its factory as well. 

But even with the help of Munro and Associates, establishing a factory for a camper as complex as the Cyberlandr is no joke. In previous interviews, King and French have noted that they would like to establish a factory close to Gigafactory Texas. This way, Cybertruck customers could get their campers installed right after taking delivery of their all-electric pickup truck. According to the Stream It CEO, however, such a place has not been found, and the company is now eyeing locations within 15 to 40 minutes from Gigafactory Texas. 

The company has also decided against building a factory for the camper, instead opting for an existing site that could host a production facility. Part of this is due to the Cybertruck’s aggressive timeframe, which suggests that the first vehicles could roll off Gigafactory Texas by the end of the year. With this in mind, Stream It would have to not only work hard, but raise a substantial amount of funding to make the Cyberlandr a reality. King shared an estimate for the buildout of the Cyberlandr’s production facility, as well as funding options that Stream It is looking into for now. 

Advertisement

“We’re estimating it at around the $100 million range to reach the market potential over the next year or two with the intent to raise. We’re currently exploring many different ways of financing it, including debt, traditional equity, private equity, and SPACs. So we’re looking at all four of those. And they each have their own strengths and weaknesses. And so, we’re evaluating what’s the best way for us,” he said. 

Credit: Stream It

The Risks of Innovation

The Stream It CEO later explained that Cyberlandr would not be built by a manufacturing partner, simply because it is such a unique product. Instead, the company is aiming to develop a solid production system for the futuristic camper on its own. Elaborating further, French added that ultimately, the Cyberlandr’s capability to hide inside the Cybertruck’s vault is something that has never really been done before in the RV industry. To make such innovations possible, a great degree of software has to be employed. Software is where Stream It’s experience lies.  

Yet at the end of the day, manufacturing is hard. Tesla itself, with its long experience building premium electric vehicles, still struggles with build quality from time to time, especially when launching a new product like the Model Y. When asked about this, King noted that Tesla actually built its reputation as the world’s premier electric car maker because it is a software company at its core. While it is true that Tesla remains challenged with things like paint quality and panel alignment, King and French explained that the EV maker’s software provides such a unique, superior experience that it simply resonates with customers. 

“There are always challenges in manufacturing, and it’s just the nature of it. But aren’t you glad that a software company like Tesla decided to make cars? Teslas have the highest customer satisfaction rating of any car, even though JD Power says they have the lowest initial quality. So there’s not a direct correlation between some of those little nitpicky things like the paint not being perfect or the doors not lining properly with the satisfaction of driving the car. The only reason Tesla is able to reinvent the car was because they weren’t in the auto industry. So when people say, ‘Well, you’re not on the RV industry, how can you make an RV?’ It’s because we’re innovating. We’re making a new kind of RV because nobody in the RV industry has innovated in 50 years,” King said.  

French pressed this point further. “That underscores the fact that nobody in the RV industry has been in software and built an RV, and every RV on the road today shows that really, the engineering skills that go into those products is a very different mindset, a very different approach. And it’s, you know, it’s basically saying, ‘It’s time to build a camper, starting with software.’ If you start with software, and you think about it, suddenly dimensions and size and fit and finish all begin to come together when you start to use technology to build this product instead of, you know, the physical aspects of assembling rivets and bolts, pieces of plywood and all the other stuff, all the stuff that you see that goes into into a traditional RV style camper,” he said. 

On the Shoulders of an EV Giant

Eventually, Stream It would like to collaborate with Tesla directly so that buyers of the Cybertruck could have the Cyberlandr installed even before they take delivery of their all-electric pickup truck. The company also hopes to eventually collaborate with Tesla when it comes to servicing the transforming camper when needed. Stream It has not yet contacted Tesla with a proposal, but King and French noted that they intend to do so once the final specs of the Cybertruck are available and once the Cyberlandr’s production is ironed out. 

Advertisement

There is no doubt that the Cyberlandr is a moonshot, and the path ahead is steep. It’s a great concept, but its feasibility remains to be seen for now. With $60 million worth of orders, there’s definitely a lot of people looking forward to it. Stream It would now have the responsibility to prove its skeptics wrong and show that even ambitious dreams can come true if one works hard enough. Bill French admits as much, stating that in a lot of ways, the Cyberlandr is a moonshot built on top of a moonshot (Tesla). And Tesla, with its superior battery technology and heavy software focus, just happens to be the perfect platform for such an ambitious product to build itself up. 

As For Lance King, the CEO believes that the potential of the camper is great.So much so that it may help usher in the post-SUV age. 

“The last 25 years, the entire world moved from sedans to SUVs. Well, what comes after the SUV? Or will we really still have those in 25 more years? The answer is no. The post SUV is what we call an adventure vehicle. This is the first of those adventure vehicles. And we think that 10 years from now, you’ll look back on it and say, ‘Well, why would anybody buy a car that doesn’t have a kitchen, living room, bedroom, bathroom, and office in it?’ We wouldn’t buy a phone that doesn’t have an internet browser and a camera and video recorder and production studio, and, you know, it goes on and on. I think we’re about to look at vehicles the same way,” he said. 

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

Advertisement

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.

Comments

Lifestyle

Possible first glimpse of Tesla “Model 2” affordable car in Fremont Factory

The models that Tesla will release in the coming months will resemble the company’s current lineup.

Published

on

Image Credit: @metgodinwilderness7130/YouTube

During the Q1 earnings call, Tesla VP of Vehicle Engineering Lars Moravy set expectations on the design of the affordable models that the company is expected to launch this 2025. As per the Tesla executive, the models that Tesla will release in the coming months will resemble the company’s current lineup.

Drone footage from the Fremont Factory earlier this month might have provided the EV community its first potential glimpse at Tesla’s affordable cars–fondly dubbed by EV fans and analysts as the “Model 2” or even “Model Q”–or at least their components and overall shape.

The Sighting

Tesla watcher and drone operator Met God in Wilderness, who has been posting aerial videos of the Fremont Factory for years now, recently shared some footage from his drone flyovers this month. While the Fremont Factory was abuzz with activity as usual, a couple of rather strange vehicles were quickly spotted by EV watchers on social media.

During the drone operator’s flyover on the 17th, for example, an unfinished vehicle could be seen parked next to what appeared to be fully-built Model S and Model Y units. What was especially interesting was the vehicle’s roof, which seemed to be slightly narrower than the Model Ys around it. Based on the video, at least, the vehicle seemed to be shaped like a crossover as well.

Footage from the 24th of April also proved quite interesting, with the drone operator capturing footage of another cryptic vehicle. Unlike the mysterious, unfinished, crossover-esque car spotted on the 17th, this particular unit seemed to have a more sloping rear, at least based on the shape of its covering.

Advertisement

What Lars Moravy Said

In Tesla’s Q1 2025 Update Letter, Tesla noted that “plans for new vehicles, including more affordable models, remain on track for start of production in the first half of 2025.” Tesla also noted that the new vehicles will utilize aspects of its next generation and its current platforms. They will also be produced on the same manufacturing lines as its present vehicle lineup, likely the Model Y and Model 3. 

During the earnings call itself, Moravy specifically stated that the new models that would come out in the next months would resemble the company’s current vehicles. They will, however, be affordable. “Models that come out in next months will be built on our lines and will resemble, in form and shape, the cars we currently make. And the key is that they’ll be affordable, and you’ll be able to buy one,” Moravy stated.

Watch the drone operator’s footage from April 17 below.

The drone operator’s footage from April 24 can be viewed below.

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Lifestyle

Elon Musk seemingly confirms Cybertruck gift to 13-year-old cancer fighter

Diagnosed in 2018 with a rare form of brain and spine cancer with no cure, the teen has undergone 13 surgeries by the time he was 12.

Published

on

Credit: Tesla

Elon Musk has seemingly confirmed that he will be sending a Tesla Cybertruck to 13-year-old Devarjaye “DJ” Daniel, a 13-year-old Houston boy fighting brain cancer. The teen was recognized as an honorary Secret Service member by U.S. President Donald Trump during his address to Congress on Tuesday. 

A Chance Meeting

The Tesla CEO’s Cybertruck pledge was mentioned during DJ’s short interview with CNN’s Kaitlan Collins. When Collins asked the 13-year-old what he told the Tesla CEO, DJ answered that he asked for a Cybertruck.

“I said, ‘can you do me a big favor, when you get back to Houston can you send us a Cybertruck down there?’” the cancer fighter stated.

Daniel noted that Musk responded positively to his request, which was highlighted by Collins in a post on X. Musk responded to the post with a heart emoji, suggesting that he really will be sending a Cybertruck to the 13-year-old cancer fighter.

Teen’s Cancer Battle Inspires

Diagnosed in 2018 with a rare form of brain and spine cancer with no cure, Daniel has undergone 13 surgeries by the time he was 12. During his speech, Trump highlighted the 13-year-old’s long battle with his disease. 

Advertisement

“Joining us in the gallery tonight is a young man who truly loves our police. The doctors gave him five months at most to live. That was more than six years ago. Since that time, DJ and his dad have been on a quest to make his dream come true,” Trump stated.

Daniels officially received an honorary badge from U.S. Secret Service Director Sean Curran, to much applause during the event.

Surprisingly Partisan

While Daniels’ story has been inspiring, Trump’s focus on the 13-year-old cancer fighter has received its own fair share of criticism. MSNBC host Nicolle Wallace, while referencing Daniels’ love for law enforcement, noted that she is hoping the 13-year-old never has to defend the U.S. capitol against Trump supporters. “If he does, I hope he isn’t one of the six who loses his life to suicide,” Wallace stated.

Anti-Musk and Trump accounts on X have also thrown jokes at the cancer fighter’s honorary badge, with some dubbing the 13-year-old as a “DEI hire” that should be looked into by DOGE.

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Lifestyle

Tesla owner highlights underrated benefit of FSD Supervised

Published

on

Credit: Tesla

Elon Musk has been pretty open about the idea of FSD being the difference maker for Tesla’s future.

If Tesla succeeds in achieving FSD, it could become the world’s most valuable company. If it doesn’t, then the company would not be able to reach its optimum potential.

FSD Supervised’s safety benefits:

  • But even if FSD is still not perfect today, FSD Supervised is already making a difference on the roads today.
  • This was highlighted in Tesla’s Q4 2024 Vehicle Safety Report.
  • As per Tesla, it recorded one crash for every 5.94 million miles driven in which drivers were using Autopilot technology.
  • For comparison, the most recent data available from the NHTSA and FHWA (from 2023) showed that there was one automobile crash every 702,000 miles in the United States. 

FSD user’s tale:

  • As per an FSD user’s post on social media platform X, FSD Supervised was able to help him drive a relative to a medical facility safely even if he was exhausted.
  • During the trip, the driver only had to monitor FSD Supervised’s performance to make sure the Tesla operated safely.
  • In a vehicle without FSD, such a trip with an exhausted driver would have been quite dangerous. 
  • “This morning, Tesla FSD proved to be an absolute godsend. I had to take my brother-in-law to the hospital in Sugar Land, TX, which is 40 miles away, at the ungodly hour of 4 AM. Both of us were exhausted, and he was understandably anxious about the surgery.
  • “The convenience of sending the hospital’s address directly from my iPhone to my Tesla while still inside my house, then just a single button press once inside, and 40 miles later we were precisely in front of the hospital’s admissions area.This experience really underscores just how transformative this technology can be for society,” Tesla owner JC Christopher noted in his post.

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

Continue Reading

Trending