Will "Joe the Contractor" buy the CT?

[anionic1]

not sure i follow why you think it will be impossible to sell?

the CA law *bans* the sale of new vehicles by manufacturers, with point of sale within CA.

It does not ban people from owning and driving conventional vehicles, or from selling them on the used market, or from driving to Nevada to purchase, or even from having a new gas car delivered from out of state.

I would agree with Fred Lambert on this one in that in 12 years you will be crazy to be driving an ICE vehicle unless its for a special purpose. Regardless of what states mandate.

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[Sirfun]

Setting aside any functional debates, I think the aesthetics will be a hindrance

The CyberTruck is unavoidably “look at me” in design

In response some say “soon they’ll be everywhere and will blend in” which is an aesthetic judgment I disagree with.

I don’t think the CT will ever merely blend into the background. Best case, they will remain “look at me” in a timeless way. Worst case, like an Affliction t-shirt, will be “look at me” for several years before transitioning to “oh gawd look at that” in an outdated way.

The history of product design has few examples of boundary-breaking designs that merely blend into the background as time passes.

Which coming back to the point: there are “look at me” guys on job sites (typically in lifted diesel duallys), but for the most part it’s a blend in bunch (save perhaps for eg solar installers or others with reason to signal).

None of which is a slight from me - I’ve written a huge a bit on this forum about my love for the CT design from the perspective of a collector of 1970s-1980s Italian modernest product design.

And for the same reasons I have some experience in owning items designed just so, and the lasting responses from those not so inclined.

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[firsttruck]

......

I think the vault cover will be a seller for many work truck guys but that is an easily added option for current trucks and the vault is harder to access in the CT so i think that will be a deterrent.
...

How will the Cybertruck vault be harder to access than powered tonneau covered bed of current generation Ford/GM/RAM 4x4 full-size crew-cab 6ft-6.5ft bed pickup on 35" tires?

 

[jerhenderson]

Yes. the 'can I reach over the side' is a simply a FUD whine as a local contractor I know has a trimotor reservation. he can't reach over the side of his current Ford.
Contractors don't reach over the side that I've seen... they unload the truck or have a pullout in the box aka vault.

 

[jerhenderson]

How will the Cybertruck vault be harder to access than powered tonneau covered bed of current generation Ford/GM/RAM 4x4 full-size crew-cab 6ft-6.5ft bed pickup on 35" tires?

it won't be. that argument... aka FUD..... it's simply whining.

 

[Diehard]

People got off their horse and into motorcar because Henry Ford made them affordable. Wuling is not the best selling EV in China because it won a beauty contest. It is because it is affordable. Many design features of CT gives it the potential to be an affordable truck. I think It will be so when it has to be and that may take a very long time. When it does, most contractors will find very creative ways to make it work for their particular application. Until then, many of them may do so just for fuel saving alone.

 

[Justinmo23]

It's hard to predict right now.

Will "Joe the Contractor" buy the CT?

Most of the "guys" driving the ubiquitous white F-150's are the ones that need to be won over for the CT to make a deep impact. High fuel prices help... but the truck needs to make their jobs easier not harder. Cost of ownership, maintenance, range, easy access to tools and the bed, overall ease of use, and maybe towing are major concerns. Right now, some of these things are easy wins for the CT, some are still a big question mark, and some are fails.

If the only access to the bed is over the tailgate, that definitely does not make any contractors life easier. It makes things harder with no rear bed storage toolbox or no bed mounted accessory diesel fuel tank (needed to fuel up equipment on the jobsites). Access and storage through the sails would definitely help, I am sure there will be a ladder rack, but there are a lot of contractor questions that remain unanswered.

For Tesla to move contractors out of the tradition ICE pickups and into the CT these need to be addressed.

I am a contractor, not Joe, the other guy. I was driving a BMW i3 at times for small jobs to save “gas” and I got a lot of compliments. I can’t get the CT soon enough. I’d like a ladder rack but it’s not necessary. I think I might look into the sliding bed system to alleviate any issues of not being able to reach tools (going to test out the bed first to see how necessary that is). I’m 100% in favor of the design, sturdy steel, no rust, rare dents, no chipped paint, EV, no exhaust (get nauseous with diesel exhaust), on board power!!! I use mainly battery powered tools, so outlets in the frunk would be nice as a battery charging area. Storage in the sail pillars would be cool, but not necessary. I wish it didn’t have to be so bold, but I appreciate the function, drag coefficient, and I’m a “back to the future” fan, so can’t help but feel a little nostalgia at the same time.
I could go on and on, but bottom line with ~2 million pre-orders, I’m not concerned if contractors want this or not, it checks so many boxes, it’s a compelling vehicle for so many people, so much of the time.
It will be my daily driver for whatever I’m doing, wherever I’m going, work, play or groceries. ? I wanted to move to Austin just to help build them.

 

[Tiberius]

Its the same old argument - "What people want is..."
What people want is...
a faster horse
a phone with real keys
a user replaceable phone battery

Turns out people actually didn't want those things at all, it's just because that's all they were offered.
So it often turns out that "What people want is..." actually something new.
When that something new comes along they find better ways to doing things.

 

[WHIZZARD OF OZ]

I think after-market add-ons such as overhead racks, and the towing capacity become more well known, the low cost of ownership and also the 'cool factor' will begin to take root in the minds of smart contractors:

- ÆCIII

If it isn't already, like a Super Truck, it's 'BOUND' to be a NO BRAINER
CYBERTRUCK for the WIN.

 

[Tiberius]

Also love the "CT is bad because its a Look at Me design"
What?
A small business screams for the need for people to notice them. The CT on its own does that in spades.
It also seems to be the cheapest truck to wrap. No compound curves or complex detailing.
Want your logo all the way down the side and over all doors? SURE! We can print it in one run and the install takes two hours.

 

[FutureBoy]

The CT is one chicken that is going to lay multiple eggs. Just look at what is happening already with the campers being designed for the CT. The contractor market will probably take a little time to get some CTs out in the wild so companies can see it in use and learn about the exact specs/attachment points. I’d predict that overhead racks will be some of the first available products. But it won’t take long for tool boxes, drawer systems, etc. Those are all products that can be used in multiple contexts (not just for contractors). Once those are available, the rest of the contractor market will open up. Don’t expect this stuff on day 1. But 2 years out there will be a selection of products available. As the CTs ramp up and get shipped in larger numbers, all the desired products will come to be available.

 

[PilotPete]

Its the same old argument - "What people want is..."
What people want is...
a faster horse
a phone with real keys
a user replaceable phone battery

Turns out people actually didn't want those things at all, it's just because that's all they were offered.
So it often turns out that "What people want is..." actually something new.
When that something new comes along they find better ways to doing things.

1000% this!?

I don't want a truck, I don't need a truck. I want something new, better. Will it save me for renting a truck 2 or 3 days a year? Yep. But that doesn't make a compelling case for spending the money. New, better, and different does.

 

[bfayer]

T
The chicken and the egg problem won't last long. Tesla already said they will have accessories like racks available at launch time.

Even if it takes a couple months, racks and such will be available shortly after launch. It may even be that the mounting points Tesla put on the bed sides will work with existing off the shelf accessories.

By the time Joe contractor can get a CT, ladder racks, pullouts, etc. will be available. Aftermarket companies just waiting for final specs, and a test vehicle to start production. Also most Joe the contractor types I know, will probable build their own ladder rack within the first week of ownership

 

[C T Rick]

The CT is the generator! Could probably match the max output of a 10kw generator for over a day straight...

Assuming that Elon is putting in the ability to use the stored power like the lightning has on their higher end models. Lots of construction tools are turning to cordless tools. Things that we use to need, like long twist lock 20 amp cords are being replaced with high power cordless tools. Having the ability to charge up expensive battery packs in the security of the frunk, vault and cab is critical. So do we need 10 kw output, no. But it would be nice for emergency power for the house if need be.

I think a big turn off will be the short bed that makes it awkward hauling pipe, plywood , drywall. Especially if I am downsizing from a full size hi roof Sprinter and NV van. Pull out drawers, like a pack rat will help with hauling and access to the bed. Right now they come in steel and aluminum. But who knows, maybe a cyber stainless Rat could be in the future, sized specifically for the CT.

Waiting to see the truck up close and personal. 4 years of patience and potentially another year or 2 for delivery, doesn’t leave me much job time left after 48 years in the trades. So downsizing my personal vehicles might still be a bonus.

The worst scenario is I pass on the CT and keep my shares of Tesla to pay for my dream machine. Still a win win for me.

Rick

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