Cybertruck “not a real truck” says survey among truck drivers

[Ogre]

In my neck of the woods I've noticed legacy lots full of trucks, less than a year ago the lots were empty and used car prices were insane.

So if any of you are looking for a real truck check this video out first.

Local Ford dealership here has trucks marked down $5,000 - $7,700 off of MSRP and that seems to be common. Not sure what’s up with the prices in that video, but one thing is certain, there are a lot of trucks on lots.

Last year, Ford & GM could only make a few trucks so they only made the most expensive models. On top of that, dealerships tacked on huge market adjustments because they could only get a few trucks in and knew it was a seller’s market.

They ran out of buyers who can afford trucks at those prices (much like Tesla will if they try and price trucks at those prices). Now they have to start producing trucks everyone else can afford again. Most of these trucks are going to sell for under MSRP.

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[cvalue13]

They ran out of buyers who can afford trucks at those prices (much like Tesla will if they try and price trucks at those prices). Now they have to start producing trucks everyone else can afford again. Most of these trucks are going to sell for under MSRP.

and we’re still in societal detox - shaking, puking, and sweating - after the 10+ year opiate of effectively zero% interest rates

every manufacturer has tough roads ahead in the wake of the most rapid interest increases in modern history

Not to say legacy manufacturers don’t have their unique ills, or that it’s the only explanation as to why suddenly car lots are sitting stagnant

but it’s a bit disingenuous for someone to gloss over the fact that compared to 2 years ago, a 72mo term auto loan on a $60,000 truck now implicates >$8,000 in additional interest costs for someone with excellent credit

that’s a 13% premium on top of MSRP

not coincidentally:

Local Ford dealership here has trucks marked down $5,000 - $7,700 off of MSRP and that seems to be common.

 

[ricinro]

Old truck drivers know a pickup when they see it. CT doesn't look like a pickup. There are no commercials where the CT is tearing up the landscape as a gravelly voice tells us how the truck has the best torque or best in class something or other. This is old school American truck culture that started a few decades ago and probably has already jumped the shark.
I think the CT is better off with the perception that it isn't grandpa's truck.
When a CT is spotted somewhere in a year or so raising and lowering itself with its state of the art suspension, 4 wheel steering, and other key features not mentioned then a new generation of truck buyers will evolve.
Similar to videos of vintage style muscle cars racing a model S folks will soon accept the CT as its own thing.

 

[charliemagpie]

Old truck drivers know a pickup when they see it. CT doesn't look like a pickup. There are no commercials where the CT is tearing up the landscape as a gravelly voice tells us how the truck has the best torque or best in class something or other. This is old school American truck culture that started a few decades ago and probably has already jumped the shark.
I think the CT is better off with the perception that it isn't grandpa's truck.
When a CT is spotted somewhere in a year or so raising and lowering itself with its state of the art suspension, 4 wheel steering, and other key features not mentioned then a new generation of truck buyers will evolve.
Similar to videos of vintage style muscle cars racing a model S folks will soon accept the CT as its own thing.

Exactly right.

If we were not nerds, for reasons of performance and use cases, most of us would not be thinking about EV trucks at all. (*)

The CT needs exposure and needs to prove itself.


* - I am watching a lot of Youtube RV stuff, and I come across a few who are talking about upgrading their ICE trucks. Upgrading towing capacity seems to be the biggest priority, and I guess range is accepted as good enough.

The current truck EV offerings just don't cut it, not even mentioned... not in consideration whatsoever.

If the CT ticks the boxes, it comes into contention, probobly top of the list.

 

[John K]

You’re no truck



Gentleman, meet Lug

 

[JBee]

Yup.

People don't believe me when I say that GM, VW, Honda, Toyota, Nissan, Mazda, and Stellantis will be bankrupt within a decade.

Ford has a fighting chance.

Hyundai/Kia will be contenders.

BMW/Mercedes/Audi/Porsche will always be around because of their niche.

But everyone else? Truly screwed. They are not going to be in car manufacturing business as it's way too late to pivot to EVs now. They are too far behind.

It'll be Tesla # 1.
Then Ford/Hyundai/Kia trailing far behind, if they manage to survive.

The real competition will come from Chinese manufacturers. Elon himself has stated that.

I would have another look at your assumptions on VW, they are steering to all EV ASAP and have been for a while now. VW make over half a million EVs a year and are ramping to 1.2m next year.

VW group (thats VW, Audi, Porsche, Skoda etc) had 20% of the EV market in Europe and Tesla just 9% despite it having the most popular EV models M3/MY.

___

I think the biggest reason for legacy auto to struggle is that they need to switch their profit model from parts sales to car sales. There's simply no justification with EV's for planned obsolescence anymore, and anyone that does it will just be left behind.

 

[S.H.Peterson]

I dont like polls. The wording is everything, then the demographics are so...'adjustable' . You creat a poll to find or validate anything you want.
"Not a real truck"
They think the Cybertruck doesnt physically exist?
The Cybertruck does not or cannot fulfill its intended function as a pickup truck?
The Cybertruck isnt congrous with what the target group's internal concept of a pickup truck?
Its seems too space age?
It seems , weak or ineffective as a pickup truck?

What is the constituency of the poll?
Ratios of men to women
Age range
Income range
Married or not
Job or business
self employed

As you can see, if the question is phrased correctly and the correct demographic chosen you can make anything statisically popular or unpopular.

Which leads me to say this:

Polls are crap.

 

[Gurule92]

Oh, I see your article, but you've made a grave mistake.

You activated my trap card! this allows me to summon an article of my own jaja.

I summon, overall interest article, attack his life points directly!

https://insideevs.com/news/658796/most-anticipated-evs-of-2023/

 

[Crissa]

Electrek has become the junk heap of EV journalism.

They didn't sponsor the study. Are you saying they shouldn't have written about? That we shouldn't have written about it?

With today's technology, the Twitter polls that collect a lot of input like the ones Elon and other have posted, are a lot more accurate than some sliver of people's numbers published in a typeset fancy format.

Twitter polls are opt-in with no controls for alts and bots. They are the worst kind of poll. They barely measure engagement.

-Crissa

 

[Deleted member 3316]

Maybe Tesla could 'market' CYBRTRK as 'Not a Pick-up Truck'
This harks back to 'Not A Flamethrower' [ That SOLD out ]

Embrace the derision.
take it as a compliment.

 

[firsttruck]

Maybe Tesla could 'market' CYBRTRK as 'Not a Pick-up Truck'
This harks back to 'Not A Flamethrower' [ That SOLD out ]

market' CYBRTRK as 'Not your grandpa's or even your pa's Pick-up Truck'

 

[Archer]

https://electrek.co/2023/03/20/truck-drivers-dont-believe-tesla-cybertruck-real-truck/

Truck drivers don’t believe Tesla Cybertruck is a ‘real truck’

A new survey of American truck drivers shows that many of them are getting ready to go electric, but the majority of them don’t even believe Tesla Cybertruck is a “real truck.”

American Trucks is behind the survey and described its intention with it:


Historically, truck drivers have been more resistant to the electric transition, and there’s a good reason for that.

While range is becoming a nonissue for most passenger vehicle use, if you are using your truck to actually do work, like pulling a heavy trailer, it will indeed limit your range greatly.

The survey shows that 35% of truck drivers are considering going electric this decade and most of them over the next five years:

Here are the most popular electric pickup trucks that current truck drivers are most excited about:

1. Ford F-150 Lightning
2. Tesla Cybertruck
3. Chevrolet Silverado EV
4. Toyota Tacoma EV
5. Rivian R1T
6. GMC Sierra EV
7. Canoo Pickup Truck

Interestingly, the survey also included nontruck drivers. If you isolate them, the Tesla Cybertruck becomes the most anticipated electric pickup truck:

1. Tesla Cybertruck
2. Ford F-150 Lightning
3. Toyota Tacoma EV

Tesla is saying that the Cybertruck is going into production this summer, but most truck drivers surveyed believe it is still at least two years away.

Truck drivers are looking for longer ranges, more charging stations, and faster charge times to help convince them to go electric.

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

Anyone who has ever pulled a 5th Wheel or gooseneck horse trailer knows the cyber bed angle is not compatible with performing such a task. Other than that... It's a freaking truck!

 

[cvalue13]

Anyone who has ever pulled a 5th Wheel or gooseneck horse trailer knows the cyber bed angle is not compatible with performing such a task. Other than that... It's a freaking truck!

Or hold a toolbox, or swap beds for a utility bed, flat bed, etc.

Folks sometime forget there’s a reason legacy trucks haven’t gone unibody / slopeback

if you want to compete in fleet, it’s a whole thing

 

[John K]

Tesla’s offering with the CT plus Semi covers 99% of truck application needs.

Would you use a Chevy S10 to pull a gooseneck trailer? Does that exclude the Chevy S10 from being considered a truck?

With specialty needs, the available models and brands able to accommodate the need is typically reduced.

 

[cvalue13]

Tesla’s offering with the CT plus Semi covers 99% of truck application needs.

Would you use a Chevy S10 to pull a gooseneck trailer? Does that exclude the Chevy S10 from being considered a truck?

Tesla’s apparent goal is to sell a lot of these CTs. The chance of doing so is probably primarily levered by price, but right after that is an ability to replace as many legacy trucks and as much legacy truck functionality as possible.

Personally, I think Tesla would have scratched off the idea whiteboard an unfettered ability to tow goosnecks or any other massive trailer. The battery power and charge infra just isn’t there yet, even for Tesla - at least to the extent of offsetting the competing desire for unibody simplicity of construction and the (assumed) aero advantages of the sloped tail.

As for competing across fleet, which is a surprisingly massive segment, perhaps there again construction simplicity and aero trumped any competing desire to have the portion of fleet that requires various utility bed offerings.

Then again, perhaps what’s under the sheet is Tesla’s (partial?) answer? Ford currently has 95% of the BEV fleet van segment, and surely Tesla wants in.

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