During the event, Elon Musk gave a presentation that commemorated the hard work of Tesla workers, the company’s history, information about the factory, production announcements, and mentions of their upcoming projects.

This new $1.1 billion dollar factory in Austin, according to CNBC, is a planning on manufacturing 500,000 Model Y units a year. Elon Musk also doted on the size of the factory by saying: “If you put the building on its side, it’s taller than the Burj Khalifa, “and that, “194 billion hamsters could fit in the building.” I mean, why wouldn’t you?

Elon Musk also mentioned a new vehicle that would be used as a “robo taxi.” Though they were shy in giving any other details other than that it will look quite futuristic.

Tesla’s robot Optimus was also in attendance during the evening. Elon Musk claimed that he believes that Optimus, whose production is starting next year, would help trigger a new age of humanity.

Though one of the big questions on everyone’s mind during the event was when production was going to start for the infamous Cybertruck. Though it was shown off on stage during the event, Franz Holzhausen chose not to hit the window of the Cybertruck with a hammer and then promised that Tesla would start production in 2023.

“Production of Cybertruck is coming next year. We will be in production with Roadster, and with Semi. That is all coming. This year is all about scaling up and next year there is going to be a massive wave of new products.”

In all, the event had all the bells and whistles it needed but there was nothing new or exciting to be celebrated. In terms of the Cybertruck, the production date has been pushed back ever since it was first revealed in 2019. So, the promise of production in 2023 will have to be seen to be believed.

BREAKING: New Tesla Cybertruck design spotted at Fremont test track!!!

Source: https://t.co/OeVhsaq71h pic.twitter.com/VyyYpuZ48U

— Sawyer Merritt ?? (@SawyerMerritt) December 10, 2021

When people saw the ten-minute footage done by Youtuber Chile AI100, they noticed that the truck has been going through some changes. According to The Verge, the front is more curved and that there are more headlights below the light bar. There are two headlights on each side of the front while in between these two lights are three amber-colored lights. Another notable new feature was the massive windshield wiper. The original design had no wiper but this one was all on the driver’s side of the window and took up almost the entire length. One other change was the side mirrors, which were also not included in the original prototype.

Elon Musk responded to this on Twitter saying that figuring out where to put it was difficult and that the mirrors are required by law. But he also stated that you could remove them if you wanted to.

Manufacturers have to ship cars with side mirrors by law, but owners are allowed to modify their cars.

The wiper is what troubles me most. No easy solution. Deployable wiper that stows in front trunk would be ideal, but complex.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 10, 2021

Though not seen in the footage, the updated prototype will also have four-steering and four electric motors. It will also have the ability to move side to side with rear wheel steering to move around like a crab which, according to Drive Tribe, is a feature on GMC’s Hummer EV.

Based off the blue painter’s tape in the footage, it looks like the altering process is not finished quite yet. Tesla has claimed to have also been working on an electromagnetic wiper. Electrek writes that the wiper will be like the single wiper seen here, but it has been said that The Cybertruck will be the first of the Tesla vehicles to have it. Though it has not officially been announced. Another feature the Electrek mentions is the side cameras where the videos would be displayed on the screens on the inside. But these cameras have not been regulated in North America yet.

The Cybertruck was unveiled back in 2019 and production has been pushed back several times. Deliveries are scheduled to happen in late 2022, thought The Verge writes that Tesla will give an update on product roadmap next month. As of now, it is the cheapest Tesla vehicle you can buy starting at $39,900 and has over 1 million of them booked.

Originally, buyers were promised the end of 2021 to start seeing production but due to designers and engineers putting the last touches on the styling and dimensions a few weeks ago, the production start date has been pushed back. According to Sawyer Mitt, an insider for Tesla, beta testing will be occurring before the year is out.

This won’t be much of a surprise but I’ve been told designs were just recently finalized for Cybertruck. Tesla said on the Q2 earnings call that “Cybertruck is at a stage where we finished basic engineering of the architecture; We’re moving into the beta phases later this year.”

— Sawyer Merritt ?? (@SawyerMerritt) August 9, 2021

As of now, production will begin in 2022. Despite this, excitement has been increasing. Recently, an artificial intelligence company called Stream It is offering attachments such as the “Cyberlandrs” that turn the Cybertruck into an RV. According to Business Insider, Lance King, CEO of Stream It, came up with the idea of while ordering a Cybertruck of his own that there was no way to attach an RV to it.

“[The RV industry] hasn’t innovated in 50 years,” King said. “They’re not going to get a stroke of genius and create a new RV. And I thought, ‘who could do it?'”

The “Cyberlandrs” have landed Stream It with an impressive $80 million in preorders.

But is it possible that we could be in over our heads? According to Inside EV, Jim Cramer, a former hedge fund manager now TV personality, recently claimed that the Cybertruck will be Elon Musks first disaster based on looks alone. He also described the truck as an eyesore:

“Yeah, I did, but I also saw the actual pickup truck. Go buy an F-150. This thing is not just ugly; you got to love Tesla to get this thing … I still like Tesla … but I think that this pickup truck will be a disaster. His first disaster. I mean, I saw one.”

With the recent excitement in RV orders and the 1.25 million pre-orders, it is safe to say that the Cybertruck being a disaster is extremely unlikely. Despite this, Elon Musk brought up last month that the Cybertruck could fail:

“There is always some chance that Cybertruck will flop,  because it is so unlike anything else. I don’t care. I love it so much even if others do not. Other trucks look like copies of the same thing, but Cybertruck looks like it was made by aliens from the future.”

Elon Musk talking about how the Cybertruck is so unique kind of hits the nail on the head. The trucks’ uniqueness is the key to its success as well as the genius of the live event where it was first revealed. The look itself was a shock, but the video of the Cybertruck pulling an F-150 uphill, shooting the door, and even the unforgettable cracks on the window from the metal ball sealed the deal for a lot of people. The increase in posts on Twitter of screen shots showing a person’s Cybertruck order is comparable to the long lines in front of apple stores when a new iPhone comes out. It is a subtle way to tell potential customers to buy something they did not know they needed.

In the end, the only way for us to determine the Cybertruck’s success is when it comes out and hits the roads. Though, ignorance is indeed bliss.

Both Hot Wheels Cybertruck models, 1:10 and 1:64, are sold out and were originally expected for delivery in December 2020. This new five-month delay piggy backs the 2018 Model 3 production hell. Tesla’s Model 3 reservation holders experienced a delay as well as the company struggled to mass produce the all-electric sedan.

A current Model 3 owner took to Reddit to share the email about his limited edition 1:10 Hot Wheels R/C Cybertruck, stating that his order is delayed and asked him to reconfirm his order. He also later received a similar email about his 1:64 scale version of the Hot Wheels R/C Cybertruck.

The email outlines that the 1:10 Hot Wheels Cybertruck is experiencing production issues due to the Covid-19 pandemic. And in that time, Mattel Creations has decided to change the battery specifications for the product.

“Battery spec update: Due to production challenges related to COVID-19, we wanted to share a change in the Cybertruck’s battery specifications. The new battery is a 9.6v @ 3Ah LiFePO4 model, with one hour of charge time and 30 minutes of run time. Don’t worry, this change shouldn’t affect its overall performance – it just means that it can reach up to 250mph scale speed!” the email stated.

While the battery upgrade is a bold move for Mattel Creations, Tesla fans may appreciate this move. The upgrade for the Hot Wheels Cybertruck comes with a Lithium Iron Phosphate battery. Which is similar to the China-Made Model 3 Standard Range Plus, produced in Shanghai.

The battery upgrade move for Mattel Creations gives Hot Wheels Cybertruck reservation holders a taste of the authentic Tesla experience. As this move seems to match Tesla’s crave for optimal performance improvements and upgrades.

The original email about the 1:10 Hot Wheels Cybertruck also included a link to its carrying case. And the Reddit user who shared his email about the delay left a comment, stating: “A bit disappointed that we didn’t get an update until now.”

The Reddit user also provided a note about how to reconfirm a Hot Wheels Cybertruck order with Mattel, and advised holders to include details like: order number, order details, name, addresses, confirmation number, and ship date.

When he was asked when we will be able to see pictures of the new design, he replied: “in a month or so.”

Sure, maybe in a month or so

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 1, 2020

According to Electrek, Elon Musk reviewed the design with Franz von Holzhausen, Tesla’s chief designer. They announced that changes will be made in order to improve the Cybertruck’s design.

So what kind of changes should we expect? Electrek says the only thing we have to go on is that Elon mentioned that the adaptive air suspension would be improved and that they would make the “centerline more level,” and “lowering the window sill height.” Another improvement we could see is an increased capability to haul large items. According to Teslarati, one of the things the Cybertruck could have is a midgate (the midgate is a part of the back window). The back window of the truck will move down and open up the cabin. This will extend the length of the bed offering more room.

Here is a comparison of the two designs.

There were plans to make the truck 3% smaller, but it was ditched back in May. Making the truck shrink 3% would have made it too small.

[baslider name=”Cybertruck”]

But why would Tesla want to change a design so bold and striking? Louis W. Ferriera III had the same question. Musk reassured him that the Cybertruck looks way better and that only small details were changed.

New design is better with many minor tweaks. Even the small details matter.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 2, 2020

Whatever changes there will be, the Cybertruck will still be cool. If the truck is anything like how it did during the unveiling it will look insane (in a good way).

Well, apparently he wasn’t because the Roadster is now actually fitted with a cold air thruster.

These are just two of the many times Musk gave hints about Tesla’s products and their features that are difficult to gauge.

Another example is that time when he said that the company is planning on releasing a ‘fart app.’ It did.

He had also said that the Boring Company will be selling a flamethrower, which also happened.

Let’s get back to the Cybertruck. The confusion began when Musk gave a comment on a design of the truck created by 3D artist Slav Popovski, in which he showed it as a boat.

Musk reposted the video on Twitter and said, “I think we could make that work.”

Given the CEO’s track record of keeping the (sort of) promises he made, it wouldn’t be too surprising if Tesla did end up making the Cybertruck amphibious.

A similar incident happened a few years ago when Musk said that the Model S could nearly be used as a boat after it was spotted driving through a flooded tunnel. The car’s battery pack at the bottom is tightly sealed and waterproof, so the vehicle is capable of floating for a short time. However, Musk did make it clear that this isn’t advised.

This was his comment: “We definitely don’t recommend this, but Model S floats well enough to turn it into a boat for short periods of time. Thrust via wheel rotation.”

Another reason why this wouldn’t be far-fetched for Musk to do is that he made it clear that he is fascinated with amphibious vehicles. In 2013, he bought the Lotus Esprit model used in the James Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me.

Sometime later, he said that Tesla would create an amphibious fully-electric vehicle of its own. Maybe it’s time he keeps his word.

An especially striking feature of the Cybertruck are its looks. Whether you think it looks hideous or stylish, here’s a question you might not have considered before: what would the Cybertruck look like as a space vehicle?

It seems that one designer in particular had that question and even set out to answer it. He repurposed the Cybertruck as a lunar rover and, we must say, it may be a better fit for the moon than the Earth.

On that note, is the production of a next-generation lunar rover underway for SpaceX? With the company having just launched two NASA astronauts into the International Space Station on May 30th, becoming the first private company to send humans into orbit, there’s no telling what it’s planning on doing next.

Moreover, SpaceX had been buying the powertrain from Tesla for its rockets, so a collaboration between the two companies for the design and manufacturing of a rover is not a far-reaching prospect.

A Cybertruck Moonrover

The designer Charlie Automotive said on his Instagram post, “Next, let’s ship a Cybertruck Moonrover in the space.” The image he posted was that of a SpaceX-NASA Moon rover with three axles and six wheels.

The design is impressive, possibly just as good as that SpaceX could’ve come up with.

SpaceX has also been working with NASA on developing launch systems and spacecraft to land Americans on the moon once again. Well, Elon Musk did launch his Tesla Roadster into space as a payload for SpaceX’s Falcon test flight. Perhaps he could launch the Cybertruck to actually be deployed on the moon.

The collaboration may be happening after all. Musk did mention some time ago that Tesla and SpaceX may work together to create the ‘Cyborg Dragon Tesla.’ Nothing seems to have been finalized yet, but the possibilities are endless and exciting.

In the beginning of the episode, Jay Leno meets Elon Musk at Hawthorne California, Tesla’s Headquarters. After Elon arrives in a red Tesla Semi, Jay Leno asks him how he would convince drivers that the Semi is better than what they already have. Elon explains that the Semi is way cheaper to operate and that if you are going cross country, the cost per mile is fundamental. Elon also adds that the cost of electricity will be less than half of the cost of diesel. Tesla estimates a saving of $200,000 in fuel costs over 1 million miles. Another reason Elon gives is that the Semi is fun to drive and that it has the acceleration of a sports car. The Tesla Semi, hauling 80,000 pounds, can go 0-60 mph in 20 seconds, while a standard diesel truck needs a full minute.

Jay Leno then moves on from the Semi to his Tesla collection. In a brief summary, the Model S is still the highest selling luxury car and still has the fastest 0-60 mph of any car in America, the Model 3 has the highest satisfaction ratings in consumer reports of any car, the Model X with the awesome Falcon Wing doors, the Model Y, which Tesla has started shipping out despite what Elon Musk said in the episode (due to the episode airing date), is the SUV version of the Model 3, and the Tesla Roadster.

In true Elon Musk fashion, he tells Jay Leno that you can have the option of putting a rocket thruster, from SpaceX, on the back of the Tesla Roadster. Like the rest of us, Jay Leno exclaims, “See, I don’t know when you are kidding or when you’re not.” Elon responds: “No, in this case I am serious”. Leno asks how that is going to work, so Elon explains that the thrusters will run on ultra-high pressure compressed air and that the thruster will be behind the license plate and it will drop down when the thruster is being used and will go 0-60 in 1.9 seconds. This might be the closest to a Bat-Mobile we have seen yet.

They then bring out the Cybertruck. Jay Leno points out that truck buyers are very conservative in what they like and that this does not look anything like a pick up truck. Senior Design Executive, Franz Von Holzhausen, explains that he thinks there is a preconceived notion of what a pickup truck should look like and that if they wanted to make something bold then they would have to break that norm. The Vault that covers the bed of the truck can roll open and close with the touch of a button. Leno asks how strong it is, Holshausen says that you can walk on it. That is when Elon climbs on the truck and stands up on the Vault.

They then take a drive in the Cybertruck, Jay Leno points out that it is not different from driving any other Tesla. The Cybertruck can go 0-60 mph in less than 2.9 seconds with 500+ miles of range and the truck is available in a single, double, and tri-motor. Elon explained that there will be changes made, but since then he has decided not to change the design. So what you see is what you’re getting. The glass is Tesla armored glass constructed with 30X cold-rolled stainless steel and the door panels of the car are a 300 Series stainless steel, making the doors bullet proof.

They drive to the SpaceX headquarters, which is where the Boring Company Tunnel starts. The tunnel is a mile and a half long. Elon then suggests that they could take the Cybertruck into the tunnel. Surprising, the truck was able to fit. The tunnel height is 14 ft and averages between 50 – 60 ft underground. Normally, a Tesla would be on Autopilot while driving through the tunnel. When the both of them reached the end of the tunnel, the Cybertruck had to fit in the elevator which would bring them up to the surface. The Cybertruck barely fit on the platform due to how big it is but the truck was able to make it to the top and back on the road.

The episode was fascinating to watch, from the composition of the Tesla Semi to Jay driving the Cybertruck into the tunnel. I am excited to see the Semi and the Cybertruck on the road.

Elon tweeted the news out on Saturday and explained that making the truck 3% smaller would be too small. He came to this decision after reviewing the design with Franz von Holzhausen, Tesla’s chief designer. The Cybertruck will remain the same size as the one displayed at the unveiling, but there are plans to build a smaller world truck in the future.

Reviewed design with Franz last night. Even 3% smaller is too small. Will be pretty much this size. We’ll probably do a smaller, tight world truck at some point.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 23, 2020

According to TechCrunch, there will be three variations of the Cybertruck. The first is a single motor and rear-wheel drive model will be $39,900, the cheapest of the three.It will have a towing capacity of 7,500 pounds. The second will be $49,900 and will have a towing capacity of 10,000 pounds. It will be a dual-motor all wheel-drive and be able to drive 300 miles after one charge. The last one will have three electric motors as well as all wheel-drive, a towing capacity of 14,000 pounds, and a range of 500 miles. This one is priced at $69,900.

With this being the case, how are buyers going to fit this giant into a garage? I have also wondered this myself after my father preordered one. Thankfully, Road Show answered this question using an augmented reality app. In the app, they put the Cybertruck into an average American garage and came to the conclusion that the truck is too big. They also pointed out that this is not Tesla’s fault. Trucks have been growing bigger and bigger over the years which has caused Americans to make their garages bigger. So, those who have bought or have plans to buy the Cybertruck in the future will have to plan on having a bigger garage. I did think that they could be left outside, but we would have to hope that there are no thieves with steel balls around. I’m pretty sure that will also be fixed though.

Production for the Cybertruck has been pushed back until late next year. The truck will surely be a sight to see.