Tesla Cybertruck Hard to Mass Produce

Tesla Cybertruck Hard to Mass Produce

When Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) unveiled its vision for an electric truck in November 2019, it shocked the world. The Cybertruck, featuring an unconventional design and clad in a custom stainless steel alloy, was equally captivating and divisive. Originally slated for a 2021 release, the company has struggled to get the truck to market, with Musk repeatedly emphasizing how difficult building it has been. Nearly four years later, it’s finally here, with the first deliveries taking place at the end of November.

Now Tesla must contend with scaling production, something that has historically proven difficult for the electric carmaker. And the Cybertruck’s unique design introduces a plethora of new challenges. Chief among them is its use of stainless steel.

“Stainless steel is tough to tool for. It’s tough to work with. And this is in some ways a really giant experiment” says John Voelcker, Contributing Editor for Car and Driver Magazine.

Tesla’s VP of Vehicle Engineering, Lars Moravy, revealed in an interview with Top Gear that Telsa had to invent a manufacturing process called “air bending” which shapes the steel with high air pressure without actually touching the surface. The thickness of the steel and the flat, angular design also contribute to the challenges, especially with regard to mass production.

TSLA shares hiked $6.01, or 2.5%, to $245.30.