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Tesla’s Cybertruck does not need traditional ‘truck people’s’ support to succeed
The Tesla Cybertruck is not a vehicle that could be appreciated by everyone. Uncompromisingly futuristic and angular to a fault, the vehicle looks less like a traditional pickup compared to other all-electric trucks like the Rivian R1T. Thanks to its polarizing looks, Tesla critics have predicted that the Cybertruck would be a flop, since the vehicle would not appeal to traditional “truck people,” who have preconceived notions about what a pickup should look like.
To be fair, the Cybertruck has received harsh criticism from a good number of classic pickup truck enthusiasts. Yet, despite this, the idea that the all-electric truck would fail because it would not appeal to a “typical Ford F-150 buyer” will likely be proven wrong. In fact, if one were to look at the history of Tesla’s vehicles, particularly the Model 3, one would note that the electric car maker’s cars do not really need the support of an existing demographic to be a success.
Tesla made a rather strange decision when it decided to start the Model 3’s rollout on the United States. During that time, some of the company’s critics pointed to the alleged folly of this strategy, particularly as the US’ luxury sedan market was in a steep decline. Yet, when Tesla hit its stride with Model 3 production, this bearish thesis was proven wrong. American car buyers bought the electric sedan, ending 2018 as the best-selling luxury car on the market with over 145,000 units sold.
Tesla’s later discussions on Model 3 trends featured interesting insights about the vehicle and why it continued to buck the trend by thriving despite the decline in the US’ sedan sales. As it turned out, the Model 3 did not just convert existing luxury car buyers when it was released — it actually inspired a new type of electric car buyer. What are these customers? They were people who have never considered buying a premium vehicle before.
This is why some of the top vehicles traded in for the Model 3 include more affordable vehicles like the Toyota Prius and the Honda Accord. By offering the best tech and safety at a price point that’s justified by a significantly lower total cost of ownership, Tesla ended up encouraging customers to acquire the Model 3, even if they have to make a stretch to do so. By doing this, the Model 3 was essentially able to create a market for itself. The same could happen to the Cybertruck.
Thus, while it is true that the Cybertruck may never convert die-hard “truck people” who are loyal to veteran brands, the vehicle may also easily attract buyers who were previously not in the market for a pickup truck at all. This is already hinted at by some reservation holders who have shared their insights online, with some admitting that they are not “truck people” at all, but they are attracted to the Cybertruck’s cost and features nonetheless. Starting at $39,990, the Cybertruck is only a bit more expensive than the Standard Range Plus Model 3, which is a sedan.
The Tesla Cybertruck is still more expensive than entry-level pickups on the market, but it is priced very competitively against full-sized, double-cab pickups from rival carmakers. The vehicle is also loaded to the teeth with standard features that would otherwise require an aftermarket modification, such as its motorized tonneau cover. Couple this with a lower cost of ownership compared to massive fuel and maintenance costs incurred by conventional gas-guzzlers like the Ford F-150 and the Cybertruck becomes a very attractive vehicle, pickup veterans and otherwise.
H/T u/Dandan0005/Reddit
News
Tesla aims to combat common Full Self-Driving problem with new patent
Tesla writes in the patent that its autonomous and semi-autonomous vehicles are heavily reliant on camera systems to navigate and interact with their environment.
Tesla is aiming to combat a common Full Self-Driving problem with a new patent.
One issue with Tesla’s vision-based approach is that sunlight glare can become a troublesome element of everyday travel. Full Self-Driving is certainly an amazing technology, but there are still things Tesla is aiming to figure out with its development.
Unfortunately, it is extremely difficult to get around this issue, and even humans need ways to combat it when they’re driving, as we commonly use sunglasses or sun visors to give us better visibility.
Cameras obviously do not have these ways to fight sunglare, but a new patent Tesla recently had published aims to fight this through a “glare shield.”
Tesla writes in the patent that its autonomous and semi-autonomous vehicles are heavily reliant on camera systems to navigate and interact with their environment.
The ability to see surroundings is crucial for accurate performance, and glare is one element of interference that has yet to be confronted.
Tesla described the patent, which will utilize “a textured surface composed of an array of micro-cones, or cone-shaped formations, which serve to scatter incident light in various directions, thereby reducing glare and improving camera vision.”
The patent was first spotted by Not a Tesla App.
The design of the micro-cones is the first element of the puzzle to fight the excess glare. The patent says they are “optimized in size, angle, and orientation to minimize Total Hemispherical Reflectance (THR) and reflection penalty, enhancing the camera’s ability to accurately interpret visual data.”
Additionally, there is an electromechanical system for dynamic orientation adjustment, which will allow the micro-cones to move based on the angle of external light sources.
This is not the only thing Tesla is mulling to resolve issues with sunlight glare, as it has also worked on two other ways to combat the problem. One thing the company has discussed is a direct photon count.
CEO Elon Musk said during the Q2 Earnings Call:
“We use an approach which is direct photon count. When you see a processed image, so the image that goes from the sort of photon counter — the silicon photon counter — that then goes through a digital signal processor or image signal processor, that’s normally what happens. And then the image that you see looks all washed out, because if you point the camera at the sun, the post-processing of the photon counting washes things out.”
Future Hardware iterations, like Hardware 5 and Hardware 6, could also integrate better solutions for the sunglare issue, such as neutral density filters or heated lenses, aiming to solve glare more effectively.
Elon Musk
Delaware Supreme Court reinstates Elon Musk’s 2018 Tesla CEO pay package
The unanimous decision criticized the prior total rescission as “improper and inequitable,” arguing that it left Musk uncompensated for six years of transformative leadership at Tesla.
The Delaware Supreme Court has overturned a lower court ruling, reinstating Elon Musk’s 2018 compensation package originally valued at $56 billion but now worth approximately $139 billion due to Tesla’s soaring stock price.
The unanimous decision criticized the prior total rescission as “improper and inequitable,” arguing that it left Musk uncompensated for six years of transformative leadership at Tesla. Musk quickly celebrated the outcome on X, stating that he felt “vindicated.” He also shared his gratitude to TSLA shareholders.
Delaware Supreme Court makes a decision
In a 49-page ruling Friday, the Delaware Supreme Court reversed Chancellor Kathaleen McCormick’s 2024 decision that voided the 2018 package over alleged board conflicts and inadequate shareholder disclosures. The high court acknowledged varying views on liability but agreed rescission was excessive, stating it “leaves Musk uncompensated for his time and efforts over a period of six years.”
The 2018 plan granted Musk options on about 304 million shares upon hitting aggressive milestones, all of which were achieved ahead of time. Shareholders overwhelmingly approved it initially in 2018 and ratified it once again in 2024 after the Delaware lower court struck it down. The case against Musk’s 2018 pay package was filed by plaintiff Richard Tornetta, who held just nine shares when the compensation plan was approved.
A hard-fought victory
As noted in a Reuters report, Tesla’s win avoids a potential $26 billion earnings hit from replacing the award at current prices. Tesla, now Texas-incorporated, had hedged with interim plans, including a November 2025 shareholder-approved package potentially worth $878 billion tied to Robotaxi and Optimus goals and other extremely aggressive operational milestones.
The saga surrounding Elon Musk’s 2018 pay package ultimately damaged Delaware’s corporate appeal, prompting a number of high-profile firms, such as Dropbox, Roblox, Trade Desk, and Coinbase, to follow Tesla’s exodus out of the state. What added more fuel to the issue was the fact that Tornetta’s legal team, following the lower court’s 2024 decision, demanded a fee request of more than $5.1 billion worth of TSLA stock, which was equal to an hourly rate of over $200,000.
Delaware Supreme Court Elon Musk 2018 Pay Package by Simon Alvarez
News
Tesla Cybercab tests are going on overdrive with production-ready units
Tesla is ramping its real-world tests of the Cybercab, with multiple sightings of the vehicle being reported across social media this week.
Tesla is ramping its real-world tests of the Cybercab, with multiple sightings of the autonomous two-seater being reported across social media this week. Based on videos of the vehicle that have been shared online, it appears that Cybercab tests are underway across multiple states.
Recent Cybercab sightings
Reports of Cybercab tests have ramped this week, with a vehicle that looked like a production-ready prototype being spotted at Apple’s Visitor Center in California. The vehicle in this sighting was interesting as it was equipped with a steering wheel. The vehicle also featured some changes to the design of its brake lights.
The Cybercab was also filmed testing at the Fremont factory’s test track, which also seemed to involve a vehicle that looked production-ready. This also seemed to be the case for a Cybercab that was spotted in Austin, Texas, which happened to be undergoing real-world tests. Overall, these sightings suggest that Cybercab testing is fully underway, and the vehicle is really moving towards production.
Production design all but finalized?
Recently, a near-production-ready Cybercab was showcased at Tesla’s Santana Row showroom in San Jose. The vehicle was equipped with frameless windows, dual windshield wipers, powered butterfly door struts, an extended front splitter, an updated lightbar, new wheel covers, and a license plate bracket. Interior updates include redesigned dash/door panels, refined seats with center cupholders, updated carpet, and what appeared to be improved legroom.
There seems to be a pretty good chance that the Cybercab’s design has been all but finalized, at least considering Elon Musk’s comments at the 2025 Annual Shareholder Meeting. During the event, Musk confirmed that the vehicle will enter production around April 2026, and its production targets will be quite ambitious.
Tesla aims to combat common Full Self-Driving problem with new patent
Delaware Supreme Court reinstates Elon Musk’s 2018 Tesla CEO pay package
