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Tesla’s futuristic ‘Supertruck’ pickup is over seven years in the making
Ahead of Tesla’s Cybertruck unveiling later tonight, CEO Elon Musk went into the historical depths of his Twitter account and recovered a tidbit regarding his plans to create a “Supertruck” with exceptional performance standards.
In 2012, Musk shared one idea for a Supertruck that has “crazy torque, dynamic air suspension, and corners like it’s on rails.” The tweet was in response to Musk’s idea that the company’s flagship sedan, the Model S, would show people that “electric is way way better than gas.” Over seven years since posting that tweet on the social media platform, the vehicle referenced by Musk is about to be unveiled to the world.
There is much excitement budding around the release of the Tesla Cybertruck, especially considering Elon Musk’s previous statements about the vehicle. Over the past months, Musk has mentioned that the pickup is probably the best vehicle that Tesla has created to date. Tesla board member and Square Roots founder Kimbal Musk echoed this statement, noting on Twitter that he has not been this excited about a vehicle’s unveiling since the Model S back in 2012. The CEO has also mentioned that the vehicle will have better performance than a base Porsche 911, hinting at a 0-60 mph time of around 3 seconds.
@DJjodes Would love to make a Tesla supertruck with crazy torque, dynamic air suspension and corners like its on rails. That'd be sweet…
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 1, 2012
While the truck’s look has been heavily speculated by electric vehicle enthusiasts, nobody truly knows what the pickup will look like. Musk has said the truck will be “pretty sci-fi…It’s kind of like a Blade Runner truck,” and he has also used the term “cyberpunk,” too. The specifications of the vehicle have been talked about by Musk in the past, with the CEO suggesting a 400-500 mile range, huge seats capable of fitting legendary professional wrestler Andre the Giant, and a towing capacity of 300,000-lbs.
The truck is expected to have a starting price of $49,000, as per Musk’s statements in an appearance at the Ride the Lightning Podcast. This price is significantly less than the $69,000 Rivian R1T pickup that will begin production in late-2020. It should be noted that the Cybertruck will likely not be directly competing against the R1T, but rather with premium petrol-powered trucks that have dominated the pickup industry.
The unveiling of Tesla’s new pickup was announced on November 6 by Musk. Coincidentally, the electric car maker also submitted a trademark for the words “CYBERTRUCK” and “CYBRTRK” on the same day. The unveiling event will take place near the SpaceX rocket factory in Los Angeles tonight at 8 PM PST.
Musk has always been very open about his plans for the future. His tweet in 2012 regarding the truck has finally come to fruition with the planned unveiling of the pickup later tonight. His vision for a truck that will become the industry standard is seven years in the making, but this is not the first time the Tesla CEO has been vocal about things that seem out of reach. In fact, Tesla’s Master Plan is an example of Musk’s dreams that seem crazy at the time of publishing, but he has come to accomplish many of the things he has set out to achieve. The Master Plan stated:
- Build sports car
- Use that money to build an affordable car
- Use that money to build an even more affordable car
- While doing above, also provide zero emission electric power generation options
Tonight, we will see the next big thing that Tesla will unveil to the world — another vehicle that will serve a role in Elon Musk’s Master Plan.
Tesla has rolled out a new Supercharging safety feature in the United States, one that will answer concerns that some owners may have if they need to leave in a pinch.
It is also a suitable alternative for non-Tesla chargers, like third-party options that feature J1772 or CCS to NACS adapters.
The feature has been available in Europe for some time, but it is now rolling out to Model 3 and Model Y owners in the U.S.
With Software Update 2026.2.3, Tesla is launching the Unlatching Charge Cable function, which will now utilize the left rear door handle to release the charging cable from the port. The release notes state:
“Charging can now be stopped and the charge cable released by pulling and holding the rear left door handle for three seconds, provided the vehicle is unlocked, and a recognized key is nearby. This is especially useful when the charge cable doesn’t have an unlatch button. You can still release the cable using the vehicle touchscreen or the Tesla app.”
The feature was first spotted by Not a Tesla App.
This is an especially nice feature for those who commonly charge at third-party locations that utilize plugs that are not NACS, which is the Tesla standard.
For example, after plugging into a J1772 charger, you will still be required to unlock the port through the touchscreen, which is a minor inconvenience, but an inconvenience nonetheless.
Additionally, it could be viewed as a safety feature, especially if you’re in need of unlocking the charger from your car in a pinch. Simply holding open the handle on the rear driver’s door will now unhatch the port from the car, allowing you to pull it out and place it back in its housing.
This feature is currently only available on the Model 3 and Model Y, so Model S, Model X, and Cybertruck owners will have to wait for a different solution to this particular feature.
News
LG Energy Solution pursuing battery deal for Tesla Optimus, other humanoid robots: report
Optimus is expected to be one of Tesla’s most ambitious projects, with Elon Musk estimating that the humanoid robot could be the company’s most important product.
A recent report has suggested that LG Energy Solution is in discussions to supply batteries for Tesla’s Optimus humanoid robot.
Optimus is expected to be one of Tesla’s most ambitious projects, with Elon Musk estimating that the humanoid robot could be the company’s most important product.
Humanoid robot battery deals
LG Energy Solution shares jumped more than 11% on the 28th after a report from the Korea Economic Daily claimed that the company is pursuing battery supply and joint development agreements with several humanoid robot makers. These reportedly include Tesla, which is developing Optimus, as well as multiple Chinese robotics companies.
China is already home to several leading battery manufacturers, such as CATL and BYD, making the robot makers’ reported interest in LG Energy Solution quite interesting. Market participants interpreted the reported outreach as a signal that performance requirements for humanoid robots may favor battery chemistries developed by companies like LG.
LF Energy Solution vs rivals
According to the report, energy density is believed to be the primary reason humanoid robot developers are evaluating LG Energy Solution’s batteries. Unlike electric vehicles, humanoid robots have significantly less space available for battery packs while requiring substantial power to operate dozens of joint motors and onboard artificial intelligence processors.
LG Energy Solution’s ternary lithium batteries offer higher energy density compared with rivals’ lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries, which are widely used by Chinese EV manufacturers. That advantage could prove critical for humanoid robots, where runtime, weight, and compact packaging are key design constraints.
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Tesla receives approval for FSD Supervised tests in Sweden
Tesla confirmed that it has been granted permission to test FSD Supervised vehicles across Sweden in a press release.
Tesla has received regulatory approval to begin tests of its Full Self-Driving Supervised system on public roads in Sweden, a notable step in the company’s efforts to secure FSD approval for the wider European market.
FSD Supervised testing in Sweden
Tesla confirmed that it has been granted permission to test FSD Supervised vehicles across Sweden following cooperation with national authorities and local municipalities. The approval covers the Swedish Transport Administration’s entire road network, as well as urban and highways in the Municipality of Nacka.
Tesla shared some insights into its recent FSD approvals in a press release. “The approval shows that cooperation between authorities, municipalities and businesses enables technological leaps and Nacka Municipality is the first to become part of the transport system of the future. The fact that the driving of the future is also being tested on Swedish roads is an important step in the development towards autonomy in real everyday traffic,” the company noted.
With approval secured for FSD tests, Tesla can now evaluate the system’s performance in diverse environments, including dense urban areas and high-speed roadways across Sweden, as noted in a report from Allt Om Elbil. Tesla highlighted that the continued development of advanced driver assistance systems is expected to pave the way for improved traffic safety, increased accessibility, and lower emissions, particularly in populated city centers.
Tesla FSD Supervised Europe rollout
FSD Supervised is already available to drivers in several global markets, including Australia, Canada, China, Mexico, New Zealand, and the United States. The system is capable of handling city and highway driving tasks such as steering, acceleration, braking, and lane changes, though it still requires drivers to supervise the vehicle’s operations.
Tesla has stated that FSD Supervised has accumulated extensive driving data from its existing markets. In Europe, however, deployment remains subject to regulatory approval, with Tesla currently awaiting clearance from relevant authorities.
The company reiterated that it expects to start rolling out FSD Supervised to European customers in early 2026, pending approvals. It would then be unsurprising if the company secures approvals for FSD tests in other European territories in the coming months.
Tesla rolls out new Supercharging safety feature in the U.S.
LG Energy Solution pursuing battery deal for Tesla Optimus, other humanoid robots: report
