Cybertruck will be the last Tesla to use stainless steel exoskeleton

[Mini2nut]

Tesla is going to retire the use of a stainless steel exoskeleton after the Cybertruck.

I’m rather surprised after the huge cap expense they incurred developing the novel tooling to produce the Cybertruck.

My dreams of a super durable SS CyberVan are crushed


Tesla Announces the Cybertruck’s Stainless Steel Exoskeleton Will Not Be Used in Any Future Tesla Vehicles

https://www.torquenews.com/11826/te...exoskeleton-will-not-be-used-any-future-tesla

January 29, 2025

Tesla has confirmed that the Cybertruck’s stainless steel exoskeleton and unique production method will not be used on any future Tesla vehicles.

The announcement was quietly tucked away inside Tesla’s 2024 earnings result and the accompanying Investor Deck - [PDF].

Interestingly, Tesla included a highly technical and surprisingly long list of Cybertruck technological advancements in the investor-targeted document.

Tesla shared that future vehicles will use several of the Cybertuck’s new features, including the steer-by-wire system, rear-wheel steering, 48-volt low-voltage architecture, 800-volt high-voltage architecture, bi-directional charging, integrated audio with body structure, ethernet loop communication, and more.

However, surprisingly, Tesla specifically stated that the cold-rolled stainless steel architecture and the accompanying production process will not be used in future Tesla vehicles.

Tesla made this announcement under the section titled “Cybertruck - Advancements in Vehicle Technology and Architecture.”

Tesla highlighted two advancements regarding the Cybertruck: the stainless steel exoskeleton and the air-bending manufacturing process, and said both will be retired with the Cybertruck.

For the stainless steel exoskeleton, Tesla says…

• “Cold-rolled full hard stainless steel exoskeleton carries crash loads and increases torsional stiffness of the body.
• Iconic visual design; high dent and corrosion resistance reduce concerns over daily wear and tear”

For the air-bending manufacturing process, Tesla writes…

• “First-of-its-kind automated tooling developed by Tesla that can bend full hard stainless steel without touching it
• Enables the use of full hard stainless steel as an A-surface without getting scratched by tooling

By “air-bending manufacturing process,” Tesla is refering to how the Cybertruck’s hard stainless steel is bent into various shapes. Tesla passes high-pressure air between the machine and the stainless steel surface, allowing the steel to bend without directly touching the manufacturing equipment.

As Tesla states, this machine and process prevent the stainless steel from being scuffed during manufacturing.

However, despite highlighting the advantages of using both the stainless steel exoskeleton and the air-bending manufacturing processes, Tesla says it will not use either in future vehicles.

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[dalton108]

I think they’ll be moving toward whatever variety of carbon fiber/composite they’re using in robotaxi.

I also don’t think they’ll ever sell anywhere near 130k CTs/yr, at any price. I know others strongly disagree. We shall see.

Also, torquenews is just the worst!

 

[Mini2nut]

I concur 100%. 125,000 yearly CT production will never happen.

The $80k+ premium MSRP and political nonsense associated with Elon Musk will limit CT sales to <50k units annually.

 

[SARobert]

I expect CT demand to skyrocket once price decrease hits the market.

 

[SCTesla]

I expect CT demand to skyrocket once price decrease hits the market.

There could be a tax credit, but I wouldn't expect any price decreases anytime soon. Reports were that the CT lost money in Q4 with non-FS. The earnings showed strong hints at that with Tesla posting their lowest all-time margins per vehicle, despite the fact the deck said that COGs on SEXY were an all-time low.

 

[Gritted Cybe]

I expect CT demand to skyrocket once price decrease hits the market.

its an iconic vehicle. Just a bit out of the hands for many people at the current price point.

 

[Mini2nut]

With supposedly all time low vehicle margins I don’t see a major price decrease coming on the AWD or Cyberbeast CT.

The only way I see a price decrease happening is when they open the order books for the RWD version. I have strong suspicion it will start in the mid to high 60’s, not $60,990.

 

[getsometom]

While the SS is eye catching, most people have wrapped their CTs anyway.

 

[dalton108]

With supposedly all time low vehicle margins I don’t see a major price decrease coming on the CT unless they open the order books on the RWD version.

And just to be clear on my position even when they release the cheap version, I don’t think they’ll sell 130k.

It’s this floodgates notion that I’m rejecting. The truck is iconic! It’s also toxic and tainted. It’s becoming notorious. Many people don’t want that kind of notoriety in their daily driver!

Love EM/hate EM - it’s irrelevant.

“Real” truck guys don’t want it. Real over landers can’t use it (range). Tree huggers won’t buy it. R2 is going to decimate it!

There is a special brand of assholes (I’m one) that this thing resonates with. It’s a limited pool. Don’t confuse appreciation with interest. The kid at Chick-fil-A drive-thru yesterday told me “I really like your truck.” He’s not going to be buying one, guarantee it!

One of the very first reviewers (maybe TFL) got this right before all the toxicity and other headwinds appeared: this is a truck for nobody! There is no natural audience for this! It’s an engineering marvel; but it’s a little more than a concept car brought to market.

They were right! I’m just glad Tesla was able to build it and I was able to buy it.

 

[dalton108]

While the SS is eye catching, most people have wrapped their CTs anyway.

Do we really think it’s most? I never plan to. I wonder if there are any actual stats?

 

[getsometom]

Do we really think it’s most? I never plan to. I wonder if there are any actual stats?

It’s my personal speculation but 4/5 CTs I see on the roads are usually wrapped. Personally I like the bare SS look but couldn’t put up with the fingerprints so mine is wrapped too despite wanting to keep it bare before purchase.

 

[hgpilot]

Tesla is going to retire the use of a stainless steel exoskeleton after the Cybertruck.

I’m rather surprised after the huge cap expense they incurred developing the novel tooling to produce the Cybertruck. My dreams of a SS CyberVan are crushed


Tesla Announces the Cybertruck’s Stainless Steel Exoskeleton Will Not Be Used in Any Future Tesla Vehicles

https://www.torquenews.com/11826/te...exoskeleton-will-not-be-used-any-future-tesla

January 29, 2025

Tesla has confirmed that the Cybertruck’s stainless steel exoskeleton and unique production method will not be used on any future Tesla vehicles.

The announcement was quietly tucked away inside Tesla’s 2024 earnings result and the accompanying Investor Deck - [PDF].

Interestingly, Tesla included a highly technical and surprisingly long list of Cybertruck technological advancements in the investor-targeted document.

Tesla shared that future vehicles will use several of the Cybertuck’s new features, including the steer-by-wire system, rear-wheel steering, 48-volt low-voltage architecture, 800-volt high-voltage architecture, bi-directional charging, integrated audio with body structure, ethernet loop communication, and more.

However, surprisingly, Tesla specifically stated that the cold-rolled stainless steel architecture and the accompanying production process will not be used in future Tesla vehicles.

Tesla made this announcement under the section titled “Cybertruck - Advancements in Vehicle Technology and Architecture.”

Tesla highlighted two advancements regarding the Cybertruck: the stainless steel exoskeleton and the air-bending manufacturing process, and said both will be retired with the Cybertruck.

For the stainless steel exoskeleton, Tesla says…

• “Cold-rolled full hard stainless steel exoskeleton carries crash loads and increases torsional stiffness of the body.
• Iconic visual design; high dent and corrosion resistance reduce concerns over daily wear and tear”

For the air-bending manufacturing process, Tesla writes…

• “First-of-its-kind automated tooling developed by Tesla that can bend full hard stainless steel without touching it
• Enables the use of full hard stainless steel as an A-surface without getting scratched by tooling

By “air-bending manufacturing process,” Tesla is refering to how the Cybertruck’s hard stainless steel is bent into various shapes. Tesla passes high-pressure air between the machine and the stainless steel surface, allowing the steel to bend without directly touching the manufacturing equipment.

As Tesla states, this machine and process prevent the stainless steel from being scuffed during manufacturing.

However, despite highlighting the advantages of using both the stainless steel exoskeleton and the air-bending manufacturing processes, Tesla says it will not use either in future vehicles.

While this may be true, Torque News hates all things Tesla and is generally responsible for putting out false and untrue information about the Cybertruck specifically - so I'd verify this from another source.

 

[Fugue]

My dreams of a SS CyberVan are crushed

I also had hoped for a Cybervan.

Tesla shared that future vehicles will use several of the Cybertuck’s new features, including the steer-by-wire system, rear-wheel steering, 48-volt low-voltage architecture, 800-volt high-voltage architecture, bi-directional charging, integrated audio with body structure, ethernet loop communication, and more.

Not surprising but great to hear! They may all be standard in future models.

 

[SCTesla]

While this may be true, Torque News hates all things Tesla and is generally responsible for putting out false and untrue information about the Cybertruck specifically - so I'd verify this from another source.

The source was Tesla in their earnings deck. They specifically stated this.

 

[dalton108]

It’s my personal speculation but 4/5 CTs I see on the roads are usually wrapped. Personally I like the bare SS look but couldn’t put up with the fingerprints so mine is wrapped too despite wanting to keep it bare before purchase.

I bet it has something to do with local and environmental considerations in addition to whether your OCD about fingerprints or not. Here in the desert, I think I see more unwrapped than wrapped.

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