Why not build a Tesla truck with the "cyber cab" plastic skin, but with solid chassis, rectangular shape and size of F150

[TECHNOMAGE]

Elon did say that if CT didn't sell well, he might reconsider a redesign for the exterior.

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[gooshjkc]

IMO, it wasn’t so much the design. Maybe played a little bit… First, I think it was the price. People were expecting something a lot less. Like $20K less for each trim. However, I can see Tesla‘s perspective here. When they first showed the world the CT in 2019, the world was normal. The year after the world fell apart and inflation shot up. So, in turn, I’m pretty sure Tesla had to return in kind. Plus, there’s probably other aspects we are not aware of. Second, the battery/range. CT is a truck and true truck buyers expect certain things from their trucks. Range being one. Even though, 300 miles is good enough for most it’s not for people who use it to do actual truck stuff. Last thing they want to do is to look for a charger. While a gas/diesel truck can go to any corner and fill up. Also, towing. We all know now, the range is cut in half if towing. Again, even if 2/3 of truck owners never tow they still want that option to be there. I still think the CT is an amazing feat of engineering and I hope it is here to stay and Tesla just improve on what they made. Once they do people will buy them like hotcakes.

 

[cyberjeff25]

All Tesla needs to do is build the exterior skin from aluminum to save weight and then paint the vehicle at the factory. Truth is the stainless skin is very hard to maintain - it always looks unfinished and mottled. Getting it wrapped for $5000 is a decent solution - but just painting the vehicle like every other car Tesla makes the most sense. Or even just use regular steel and paint the body giving the buyer a choice of five colors like on the other models.

This would sell a lot more trucks and allow eliminating the stainless skin which is no doubt a lot more costly than a painted steel or aluminum skin.

The alternative is use the same stainless finish as appliance companies now use on their stainless steel stoves and refrigerators that no longer show fingerprints - maybe they spray a top coat on the stainless steel steel?

 

[Roger@CYBERTRUCKco]

Or plastic skin version of current shape would save a lot in cost and weight, that probably makes a $59k option easier

 

[CyberGus]

Why not build a Tesla truck with the "cyber cab" plastic skin

1. Ewwwwww
2. Stainless is awesome
3. Closures (i.e., tailgate, frunk lid, and doors) are structurally stainless, using different materials would require redesign with extra bracing (particularly with side-impact protection)
4. Aluminum is even worse, as it deforms easily, and painting adds significant cost.
5. Stainless skin is part of Cybertruck's DNA. If you want a plastic Tesla, get a Cybercab.

That's why.

Wood might cool, tho

 

[CyberGus]

Truth is the stainless skin is very hard to maintain - it always looks unfinished and mottled.

 

[TECHNOMAGE]

I agree on the "
hard to maintain". I like the looks of stainless, but don't wanna have to chase every bug or mud splat because I and everyone else can see em. Bulletproof, only doors under certain conditions. Do I need that? Nope for my neighborhood!

 

[TECHNOMAGE]

Or plastic skin version of current shape would save a lot in cost and weight, that probably makes a $59k option easier

I was thinking of a plastic skin that would allow more passenger and cargo volume (mebbe battery too). Aerodynamics nice, but we are talking a pickup truck that should be considered a work truck and all current pickup trucks are really work vs neighborhood "show trucks". Making em "show trucks" really costs and constant cleaning to make em shiny is a waste of time.

 

[YDR37]

Two different philosophies for non-painted trucks:

Tesla: we're making the body out of costly, difficult-to-shape stainless steel. So it will be expensive, but it won't get damaged. And it doesn't need paint; if you want color, you can wrap it.

Slate: we're making the body out of inexpensive, easily molded plastic. So it will be cheap; if a panel gets damaged, just swap in a new one. And it doesn't need paint; if you want color, you can wrap it.

 

[SlegMD]

Shopping cart hit my truck yesterday. I didn’t give a fuck. I laughed actually.

It’s why I bought the damn thing

 

[Mini2nut]

As much as I like the SS body I always felt that the Cybertruck exterior panels should have copied the Corvette. GM uses SMC (sheet molded compound) for the exterior panels. SMC panels don't suffer from waviness, rust or dents. The weight savings would have been significant over thick SS. Battery range would have increased due to the lighter overall weight. This would result in a $50M - $150M capital expense for a body shop however.

The biggest benefit would have been the exterior appearance. It would have looked much more like a finished product and wouldn't suffer from wavy SS panels. Virtually every CT coming off the assembly line needs some finesse to align the SS body panels correctly.

The Corvette C8 body panels are a lightweight advanced composite material consisting of about 22% to 40% fiberglass strands mixed with resins and micro hollow glass beads.

 

[dalanstewart]

I had mine wrapped just so I can easily tell which truck is mine…

 

[CyberGus]

The weight savings would have been significant over thick SS.

The Cybertruck's stainless weighs about 400 pounds.

A Corvette fiberglass shell weighs 300 pounds.

 

[kpanda17]

Elon did say that if CT didn't sell well, he might reconsider a redesign for the exterior.

But why? We’re not even sure the Slate will suceed

there are people that want a $25K pickup/conv to SUV $30K

but is there a big market for these anylonger?

1999 ISUZU HOMBRE
Cost 1999 $11K
Adj to 2026 $22K gas
$25K effectively a Slate

 

[Ruffles]

I think what killed the Cybertruck the most was Elon getting involved in politics right when it came out. For 50% of the population, it became the symbol of their political opponent. (Agree or disagree, lets not discuss political details in this thread and instead just keep it high level as something that impacted Cybertruck).

The millions of pre-orders confirm people liked (or can get past) the looks. People understand the cost change given the world was completely different from 2019 and 2024 but lowering the price always increases demand. The range miss was hard to stomach and I wish they would have delivered the range extender but they over delivered in other specs so it depends on how you want to use the truck.

At this point, I think they would have more success by pricing the AWD at $59k permanently and deliver the range extender for people that want to tow. Those two things would cost them less than manufacturing a new truck using cybercab tech. I also think going with a traditional look would be negative at this point.

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