When Elon Musk unveiled his cybertruck, it was to widespread criticism. Despite this, there have been over 250,000 units ordered. But what exactly is the cybertruck, and why has it garnered both scorn and interest?
On November 21st, Tesla unveiled the “cybertruck” to an eagerly waiting audience. Unfortunately, the event didn’t go as planned. After smashing in the doors with a sledgehammer, metal balls were thrown at the truck’s windows. It was expected that the windows would remain whole, but instead they shattered, much to the disappointment of everyone there. The video was traded by news outlets for the rest of the day.
In the past, Tesla has released sedans, coupes, and SUVs. But this truck is a clear departure from the previous items in their line up. Unlike the other vehicles (which are slick and stylish), the cybertruck has been specifically designed to be as angular and boxy as possible. Not only does this create an incredibly futuristic look, but it also positions the vehicle as a utilitarian choice.
The cybertruck’s windows are made out of bullet proof glass, which wasn’t supposed to shatter. But they also didn’t entirely break, which is what bullet proof glass is designed to do: maintain its shape rather than falling apart, even if it does fracture. So, to that extent, the cybertruck wasn’t an entire failure.
That being said, it certainly wasn’t intentional.
Tesla has stated that the windows shattered not because of the windows themselves, but rather because of the sledgehammer previously used on the door. The theory is that this damaged the glass enough to create a fracture point, which then caused the windows to fracture when subjected to force. In tests, the windows would ostensibly have stayed unbroken because there wasn’t this fracture point. Whether or not that’s true could be up to some debate.
Despite the malfunction, the cybertruck still hit 146,000 orders within a couple of days and 250,000 orders within a week. That’s not a lot compared to the heavy hitters (companies like GM will sell millions of vehicles), but it’s a lot for essentially a startup line of vehicle.
There is a caveat. Preordering only requires a $100 deposit, so not every order may be a serious one.
Nevertheless, it does seem as though the cybertruck has garnered significant interest. So what, exactly, is so unique about the cybertruck? There are four main reasons why it’s catching on.
#1: The truck is created to have the “utility of the truck” along with the performance of a sports car. The cybertruck is expected to be able to go off-road and on-road with a high level of performance.
#2: It is uniquely designed with a rigid body frame that’s supposed to be “tough” even if it isn’t attractive. The sledgehammer and metal balls were intended to show just how durable the truck really is.
#3: The truck is relatively affordable, with prices starting at $39,900 for the base version of the truck. Most Tesla vehicles are on the higher end, and there’s a lot of value added through packages.
#4: The vehicle is completely electric, which is an area being explored for both consumer vehicles and long haul trucking. An electric truck that still has a powerful engine has been difficult to achieve.
Will the cybertruck revolutionize and disrupt the vehicle industry? So far, Tesla has been fairly successful in doing just that, and the cybertruck appeared to be a unique misstep in their history. While the cybertruck didn’t “wow” the critics, it does seem to resonate with a specific type of buyer: buyers who enjoy the aesthetic, and who want to purchase their place in futurism.
As for Tesla as a company, the company initially saw a fall in its valuation after the cybertruck was released, and it hasn’t yet fully recovered. Whether it does recover will likely depend on whether the cybertruck can deliver upon its premise once its preorders are filled and the trucks are on the ground.
