MotorHeadline: Is the Cyber Truck really “Musk’s folly?”

Tesla has just started production in the most divisive vehicle I have ever seen or heard of. While on the outside, this truck has been deemed “Musk’s Folly,” I think there is more to it than meets the eye.

The Cyber Truck, a stainless-steel skinned pickup truck that looks both retro and futuristic at the same time, is starting to roll out to early adopters. 

When first introduced in 2019 as a concept vehicle, it shocked the automotive industry, and not in a good way. Many people, me included, thought it was just a wacky concept vehicle and it had no actual chance of being built. 

Here we are, a few years later, and they are all automotive social media can talk about. Most of the reviews and hot takes have been blazingly severe of everything Cyber Truck, from the actual design, function, manufacturing issues, and delays. 

Many things that Musk promised of the Cyber Truck have been revised or left out completely of the final production unit, including a companion all electric four-wheeler that is stored and charged in the bed.

According to Musk, Tesla received 250,000 $100 deposits to reserve the Cyber Truck by November 26th, 2019. This was a good start, showing widespread interest in such a hyped up vehicle.

But is the vehicle worth the hype?

In the Cyber Truck unveiling, which is available to be seen on YouTube, is where many promises were made on price, performance, and production timing. It is also where promises started falling apart. 

Franz von Holzhausen, the lead designer, threw a steel ball into the shatterproof side glass, subsequently shattering the front and rear driver side windows. With Musk awkwardly standing in front of the truck with broken windows.

A screen in the background over Musk’s head flashed $39,000 as the starting price of the Cyber Truck. Another set of prices flash up with three options, with the Tri-Motor option showing $69,900, the highest of the three. 

It was an ambitious unveiling, to say the least.

“Doesn’t look like anything else” quoted Musk, with the most accurate thing anyone has ever said at any unveiling.

Many of the promises broken by Musk at the unveiling aren’t the fault of the company. 

Early 2019 was a different time, when the pandemic was still unheard of, and face masks were still used by bank robbers. Over time, rampant inflation and supply costs have skyrocketed industry wide. Ford’s F-150 Lightning was promised to be $41,000, and it was released at $51,990.

With all the bad that the Cyber Truck brings to the opinion table, why would Musk spend billions of dollars to develop it? The way I see it, it is a “moon shot.”

A moon shot is something that can change the way industries operate. They lift all technologies up and are a test bed for advancement. Many companies were started or were saved by moon shots. 

Think of Apple without the release of the iPhone, Gibson without releasing the Les Paul, or Microsoft without Windows. Moon shots set the tone for companies, even if they are released with problems. 

The Cyber Truck isn’t like anything out there, even the products that Tesla currently makes. It doesn’t have to be 100% effective, make money, or please the industry pundits.

Many people think Tesla is a car company, but it is not. It is a technology company. The cars are just the box it comes in. You cannot expect a technology company to move like a car company.

Moon shots aren’t rare, and many aren’t successful. 

In 2001, the XFL was a new football league created by NBC and World Wrestling Entertainment. With an edge of slackened rules, foul language, and players getting to pick their jersey names, it was a snatch attempt and getting market share from the NFL. 

After one season, the XFL flopped and was quietly ushered into history. There are traces of the XFL still seen today, with the skycam being used by the NFL, which was developed by the XFL to give television viewers a better view of the field.

No matter what you think of the Cyber Truck, it will begin to normalize technologies like four-wheel steering, advanced driver assistance systems, and new driver information systems. The platform may also develop into more commercial applications, like light delivery and industrial truck applications.

Whether the Cyber Truck wins or loses in the market, Tesla has benefited from the massive public relation waves it has made. There is no such thing as bad publicity.

As for me, I will see you on the road!