Article: CyberTruck an "oddity" and not as indicative of Tesla's future as Model 3 Highland -- Agree or Disagree?

[Gurule92]

The Model 3 has a several year head start.
Cybertruck isn't even in the hands of it's first customer.

Right. But I think it's safe to say at least from a design standpoint, when looking at Teslas lineup. The Cybertruck is a one off. Based on current evidence.

The model 3 refresh is in line with Teslas design language across all vehicles besides CT.

Which would lead some to assume that the cars design language will continue to be Teslas future whereas the CT is an oddity.

Oddities aren't bad imo

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[CostcoSamples]

I can't imagine how the CT isn't a huge part of defining Tesla's future. Even if it is an oddity... A successful oddity is one of the most defining things a company can do to strengthen a brand. The only way the CT doesn't define Tesla's future is if its a flop.

 

[flowerlandfilms]

"Microsoft is a computer industry oddity.
The real money is in hardware not software.
Microsoft Windows is not indicative of the computer industries future."

- Every moron in the early 1980s

 

[PilotPete]

The key to seeing the future of Tesla is not in the sales or the profit of the CT, or any S3XY car. It is the technology in the car, the new concepts in the internal design, the methodology of construction, and the things you can’t see on the outside that make it unique. Add into that the vast vertical development of the product, their independence from as many vendors as the legacies, their willingness to try anything. That is what separates Tesla from the rest. And it is because of those breakouts from the norm that they are so profitable. It’s not their profit that makes them profit, it’s their innovation. The new M3 is rumored to cost something close to the current model, but with many more features. How? By changing the way they build the car and cutting costs. That is what they do now that legacy can’t or won’t. That is why they make money on every EV, and legacy doesn’t.

I think now Tesla has achieved critical mass. Meaning, they have developed enough business to give them momentum and sustained profits. As long as they keep innovating, the market share will continue to grow. Their business is “self sustaining” in a manor of thinking. That doesn’t guarantee growth, but it gives them a backstop to continue to innovate.

 

[firsttruck]

Doesn't matter if Tesla does another demo of the armored glass.

Once Cybertruck is in customer hands, there will hundreds maybe thousands of YouTubers making videos of their armored glass tests.

 

[HaulingAss]

The key to seeing the future of Tesla is not in the sales or the profit of the CT, or any S3XY car. It is the technology in the car, the new concepts in the internal design, the methodology of construction, and the things you can’t see on the outside that make it unique. Add into that the vast vertical development of the product, their independence from as many vendors as the legacies, their willingness to try anything. That is what separates Tesla from the rest. And it is because of those breakouts from the norm that they are so profitable. It’s not their profit that makes them profit, it’s their innovation. The new M3 is rumored to cost something close to the current model, but with many more features. How? By changing the way they build the car and cutting costs. That is what they do now that legacy can’t or won’t. That is why they make money on every EV, and legacy doesn’t.

I think now Tesla has achieved critical mass. Meaning, they have developed enough business to give them momentum and sustained profits. As long as they keep innovating, the market share will continue to grow. Their business is “self sustaining” in a manor of thinking. That doesn’t guarantee growth, but it gives them a backstop to continue to innovate.

Exactly! It's Tesla's innovation that defines their future. And, more specifically, the way they innovate every aspect of their business to be able to bring you and me high-quality, durable, efficient vehicles at prices no other automaker can come close to. The proof is that Tesla sells their electric vehices for a nice profit while the rest have slim to negative margins. Even selling every vehicle at a hefty loss does not allow a low enough price for them to sell in high volumes.

Yes, Cybertruck is an oddity, but only for the styling that is defined by the cold-rolled steel exoskeleton design. If Tesla finds this new style of construction creates net value for the consumer in passenger vehicles, it will be carried into their other models. Otherwise it won't. I suspect, if the cost of manufacture is not too high, the Tesla van may utilize the exoskeleton learnings.

Tesla's future is defined by constant innovations at a rate that the rest cannot compete with, and this applies to all their models. These innovations are not limited to manufacturing, but extend to sourcing of raw materials and components, the design and construction of their factories, corporate governance, sales and delivery, and anything else that can help the company produce more value for their customers for less money.

It's plainly obvious the author has a very imperfect understanding of why Tesla is so successful.

 

[Crissa]

I think it's a good point.

But I think we're also missing the forest for the trees, as Cybertruck and Highland will probably share alot of parts, like that rear control panel.

-Crissa

 

[HaulingAss]

Doesn't matter if Tesla does another demo of the armored glass.

Once Cybertruck is in customer hands, there will hundreds maybe thousands of YouTubers making videos of their armored glass tests.

Tesla better stock up on replacement glass - they are going to make a killing selling replacement glass after people say, "Hold my beer and watch this".

Fun fact: Security glass is not designed to remain unscathed by the kind of attacks it's designed to protect against, it is just supposed to prevent penetration. It will still require replacement after doing its job. The most interesting thing for me will be if the glass used on Cybertruck remains undamaged by typical highway rock strikes.

The windshield on my 2018 Model 3 is just regular auto windshield glass but it has resisted a handful of really hard and loud rock strikes with barely visible pitting. Until last year when one of them left a small 1-inch round series of 5 or 6 cracks radiating out about 1/2 inch from the point of impact. I left it through last summer and it didn't get bigger but I thought I had better fill it before winter. So, I bought one of those $20 windshild repair kits and filled it with the included resin. After an entire year, including a winter with plenty of rain that froze on the windshield overnight, it still hasn't spread.

Judging by the number of loud (scary even) impacts it has taken with only the one small spider web that didn't spread, I can only conclude the stories of Model 3 having weak inferior glass is simply made up to try to dissuade potential buyers. The glass on my Mazda CX-5 required replacement within the first year. We have had two Model 3's for over 5 years and neither has needed replacement.

 

[firsttruck]

Tesla better stock up on replacement glass - they are going to make a killing selling replacement glass after people say, "Hold my beer and watch this".

Fun fact: Security glass is not designed to remain unscathed by the kind of attacks it's designed to protect against, it is just supposed to prevent penetration. It will still require replacement after doing its job.
....

Yup, protection but the glass might be sacrificed.

Down-sides is there will be those that intentional damage glass on their truck then scam the insurance companies into paying out and also an increase of vandals targeting Cybertrucks. Sure the insurance companies will catch & stop alot of this fraud but the insurance rates for all Cybertrucks will probably still go up and also some customers with legitimate losses will experience extra hassle from claim adjuster or even be unfairly denied reimbursement.

 

[HaulingAss]

The claim from Tesla is that the doors will resist penetration of a typical FMJ (Full Metal Jacket) 9mm handgun round. I won't be shooting my Cybertruck doors with 9mm because protecting against penetration is obviously different from remaining unscathed. As tough as cold-rolled stainless steel is in 3mm, it will still leave a mark. And the more difficult a peice of metal is to leave a dent, the more difficult it will be to remove said dent. It will basically be impossible. If you are inside the Cybertruck when some punk shoots at you, you will not care about the mark, you will just be glad it didn't send you to the hospital (or the morgue).

 

[WHIZZARD OF OZ]

Right. But I think it's safe to say at least from a design standpoint, when looking at Teslas lineup. The Cybertruck is a one off. Based on current evidence.

The model 3 refresh is in line with Teslas design language across all vehicles besides CT.

Which would lead some to assume that the cars design language will continue to be Teslas future whereas the CT is an oddity.

Oddities aren't bad imo

CYBERTRUCK ......The 'SPACE ODDITY' taking to the Streets and Carparks ( Of Your Mind )

 

[WHIZZARD OF OZ]

'But that trick NEVER works' ( Rocky & Bullwinkle ) + Franz and Elon

 

[WHIZZARD OF OZ]

The Mexican Chief of Police who ordered 15 CT.
Or Sandy Munro during the teardown.

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