With sales down is the CT going to become a Delorean

[SCTesla]

Elon/Tesla originally planned on the Cybertruck having a real exoskeleton. Elon described it being laser cut and folded and unlike traditional trucks, which use stamping, the Cybertruck would beone piece with doors attached and put onto the battery. This would reduce cost and make it more structurally sound.

That obviously couldn't be accomplished and we got a traditional unibody design with panels adhered on.

No one is saying the SS panels do not contribute to crash safety or even rigidity, but this is not the exoskeleton that Tesla or anyone envisioned...and to continue to call it an exoskeleton would mean all vehicles have one with different levels of exoskeleton strength. This is the reason Tesla slowly backed off referring to the exoskeleton and eventually removed it from the website.

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[ÆCIII]

In many ways the stifled economy of the last few years is just now beginning to recover.

The Delorean was an expensive gimmick of stainless steel, style, and wing doors, while being twice more overpriced upon its release than the Cybertruck is today. The Delorean was also very cramped and one of the slowest vehicles ever made which made it's style and appearance totally ironic.

The Cybertruck on the other hand is technically far advanced, fast, and awesome in so many ways, and it will still be advanced compared to all legacy auto even five to ten more years from now (and that could never have been said about the Delorean).

I've said two or three times that the Cybertruck will be a 'slow burner' for such reasons, but it certainly is not a flash in a pan. Tesla doesn't need the Cybertruck to be a fast hot seller at any particular time either, and people will buy them as they're able to. I think CT sales will possibly increase over the next few years as households recover and strengthen their financial footing.

None of Tesla's vehicle sales are critical because Tesla smartly has multiple vectors of sustainability for their own business model, and with very little debt. So Tesla can afford to manufacture true innovation without compromise or marketing concerns, and sell any particular vehicle at whatever rate the market currently demands.

The Delorean and Cybertruck are somewhat comparable for skin appearance and futuristic style perceptions but that's where the similarity quickly ends, because performance and technology in the Cybertruck are far more advanced.

- ÆCIII

 

[YDR37]

Tesla is currently sitting on a substantial inventory of Cybertrucks:

It's true that there were inventory concerns earlier this year, but they have eased, because Tesla has cut way back on production of the Cybertruck and the other expensive models (Model S and Model X).

For 2Q 2025, Tesla reported production of 13,409 S/X/CT (the "Other Models" category). That was the lowest quarterly production of expensive models since 2021 (when the only expensive models were the S/X). For comparison, the 2Q 2024 production number was 24,255.

So the good news is that there are fewer concerns about inventory now. The bad news is that there are more concerns about factory utilization. According to Tesla, the Fremont factory has capacity to produce 100,000 S/X per year, and the Austin factory has capacity to produce over 125,000 CTs per year. That's a total of at least 225,000 expensive Teslas per year, or over 56,000 per quarter. But if only 13,409 expensive Teslas were actually produced in 2Q 2025, then over 75% of that factory capacity was unused, which is not the most cost-efficient way to run a manufacturing business.

 

[HaulingAss]

Elon/Tesla originally planned on the Cybertruck having a real exoskeleton. Elon described it being laser cut and folded and unlike traditional trucks, which use stamping, the Cybertruck would beone piece with doors attached and put onto the battery. This would reduce cost and make it more structurally sound.

I don't know if the cost savings panned out because that stainless steel from Finland is really expensive, but that's an accurate description of how the Cybertruck is actually constructed. Except for the "one piece" comment (Tesla never said it would be "one piece").

Even the photo you posted (above) shows the passenger cage was always intended to be stamped from softer materials (as revealed by the compound curves shown around the door openings).

That obviously couldn't be accomplished and we got a traditional unibody design with panels adhered on.

False. While the Cybertruck should be classified generally as a unibody chassis, it is far from a traditional unibody. You don't have to be smart or knowledgeable to see that it's not a traditional unibody design.

No one is saying the SS panels do not contribute to crash safety or even rigidity, but this is not the exoskeleton that Tesla or anyone envisioned...and to continue to call it an exoskeleton would mean all vehicles have one with different levels of exoskeleton strength.

Tesla revealed the term "exoskeleton" at the 2019 Cybertruck reveal. It's a term lifted from biology (think crab or centipede) but it could be applied to any unibody vehicle because the structure is exterior to the interior. A body on frame vehicle (like the F-150) would not qualify since the body just rides on top of the chassis and doesn't contribute any strength. Anyone who thought 100% of the chassis strength would be stainless steel did not understand what Tesla said during the reveal. Because the Cybertruck has a hard and dent-resistant outer shell, the term "exoskeleton" fits it even more than any other unibody vehicle.

This is the reason Tesla slowly backed off referring to the exoskeleton and eventually removed it from the website.

I've seen a lot of Cybertruck naysayers make this claim. But it's false. Tesla has not "backed off" calling it an exoskeleton and the term is still used on Tesla.com:

Cybertruck – Electric Utility Truck | Tesla

Scroll down until you see:

No Paint, No Chips

An ultra-hard stainless-steel exoskeleton helps to reduce dents, damage and long-term corrosion. Repairs are simple and quick.

When Franz and Lars (Head of Vehicle Engineering at Tesla) rode around in a production Cybertruck with Jay Leno, Lars explained how critical the thick stainless sail panels were to the strength and rigidity of the chassis. And, yes, the guy who oversaw all the chassis engineering called it an exoskeleton. You are free to define the term at your pleasure, but I'm going with the engineer who knows how tough it is and understands the Cybertruck's chassis strength. He's an engineer.

It's not about the marketing terms used, it's about how it functions. And it functions as a protective shell, it's structural and tough. And Tesla still uses the term "exoskeleton" on their website.

The only reason anyone would deny the obvious is to try to throw fake shade on Tesla.

 

[HaulingAss]

In many ways the stifled economy of the last few years is just now beginning to recover.

The Delorean was an expensive gimmick of stainless steel, style, and wing doors, while being twice more overpriced upon its release than the Cybertruck is today. The Delorean was also very cramped and one of the slowest vehicles ever made which made it's style and appearance totally ironic.

The Cybertruck on the other hand is technically far advanced, fast, and awesome in so many ways, and it will still be advanced compared to all legacy auto even five to ten more years from now (and that could never have been said about the Delorean).

I've said two or three times that the Cybertruck will be a 'slow burner' for such reasons, but it certainly is not a flash in a pan. Tesla doesn't need the Cybertruck to be a fast hot seller at any particular time either, and people will buy them as they're able to. I think CT sales will possibly increase over the next few years as households recover and strengthen their financial footing.

None of Tesla's vehicle sales are critical because Tesla smartly has multiple vectors of sustainability for their own business model, and with very little debt. So Tesla can afford to manufacture true innovation without compromise or marketing concerns, and sell any particular vehicle at whatever rate the market currently demands.

The Delorean and Cybertruck are somewhat comparable for skin appearance and futuristic style perceptions but that's where the similarity quickly ends, because performance and technology in the Cybertruck is far more advanced.

- ÆCIII

That's a post that really demonstrates an accurate overview and deep understanding of why the question poised by this thread's title is so wrong-headed. Kudos!

 

[SCTesla]

No matter what happens, Hauling will be blindly following what Tesla says. He said last year that we will never see a drop in Tesla sales again, because he believes Elon.

Tesla has ditched the exoskeleton term, completely wiped it off the website, because it's not. (there's no scrolling down, you linked a cached site of the webstie, hit refresh and it's gone). Just like all things with FSD, Exoskeleton, Tesla in general, Tesla says half truths...not quite lies, but misleading statements...and people like Hauling eat them up (He echoed Elon in saying Tesla would not be down in sales last year, despite Tesla knowing they would be).

It's a marketing term. No engineer would agree with you or Tesla that it's an Exoskeleton. The fact that you need to make such leaps and change what was advertised in 2019 shows that you are biased.

 

[HaulingAss]

No matter what happens, Hauling will be blindly following what Tesla says. He said last year that we will never see a drop in Tesla sales again, because he believes Elon.

Huh? I never said we will never see a drop in Tesla sales again. That's just foolishness to think I would ever say such a ridiculous thing. Why do you just make up stuff? And I don't blindly follow what anyone says, I use my rational brain, but I would rightfully put more credence in what the head of vehicle engineering says over some random Internet scoundrel who likes to make things up and present them as facts.

Tesla has ditched the exoskeleton term, completely wiped it off the website, because it's not. (there's no scrolling down, you linked a cached site of the webstie, hit refresh and it's gone).

I hit refresh and the term "exoskeleton" was still there, right on Tesla's website. Why do you lie?

It's a marketing term. No engineer would agree with you or Tesla that it's an Exoskeleton. The fact that you need to make such leaps and change what was advertised in 2019 shows that you are biased.

Of course "exoskeleton" is a marketing term, I've said that myself many times. That's because it was lifted from the field of biology. I'm beginning to wonder exactly what you are so adamantly arguing (other than anything you think makes Tesla looks bad). All companies use marketing terms. The term "exoskeleton" has no specific definition in the auto world. Yet you are sure it isn't one (even though you admit it's structural and tough). Pure nonsense.

Question: Do you know of any other vehicles that have anywhere near as tough of an exoskeleton as the Cybertruck? It's really hard to dent or make significant scratches in it. Yeah, hit it with a hardball at high speed and watch it leave no trace. Pelt it with golfballs, hail, kick it with your boot, throw steel balls at it, ram fully loaded shopping carts into it, and then tell me the term was misapplied. Just silly.

 

[HaulingAss]

Tesla has ditched the exoskeleton term, completely wiped it off the website, because it's not. (there's no scrolling down, you linked a cached site of the webstie, hit refresh and it's gone).

If Tesla ditched the term "exoskeleton" from their website, and are backing away from marketing it as an exoskeleton, then please explain this recent informational page (June 20, 2025) that does a deeper dive into the benefits of an exoskeleton:

Superior Durability of Cybertruck HFS (Hard Freaking Stainless) | Tesla

You have no facts to stand on with your unsupported claims. You just make shit up and don't even bother to verify if they are true or not. Because you care more about throwing shade on Tesla than on whether what you say is true or false. Just despicable.

I found that with a simple Google search limited to the Tesla website (using the limiter "site: www.tesla.com").

It doesn't appear that you care about actual facts. BTW, you could learn a lot about the actual properties of Cybertruck's exoskeleton in the link above. Interesting reading, if you want to learn a few things.

 

[YDR37]

Tesla has not "backed off" calling it an exoskeleton and the term is still used on Tesla.com:

Cybertruck – Electric Utility Truck | Tesla

The full address in the link above is: https://www.tesla.com/en_my/cybertruck

This is the Tesla Cybertruck home page for Malaysia. The Cybertruck is not currently available in Malaysia, and the design of that page is quite different from those of the current Cybertruck US or Cybertruck Canada home pages. When I visit the Malaysia page, it recognizes that I am browsing from the US, and it offers to refresh to the US page, but this behavior could possibly vary depending on your browser or VPN.

The Cybertruck US home page is at: https://www.tesla.com/cybertruck
The Cybertruck Canada (English) home page is at: https://www.tesla.com/en_ca/cybertruck

The current US and Canadian Cybertruck home pages have a newer design. They do not appear to use the word "exoskeleton". They do say:

Exterior body panels are made from stainless steel, making your truck tough on the outside to keep you safe on the inside.

The Malaysia Cybertruck home page, and possibly the home pages for other countries, do include the word "exoskeleton".

 

[Mini2nut]

From the Tesla Cybertruck website:

 

[YDR37]

From the Tesla Cybertruck website:

Which Tesla Cybertruck website? For which country?

The current US version is here: https://www.tesla.com/cybertruck

It doesn't have the "No Paint, No Chips" language, although it may have had it in the past.

 

[HaulingAss]

From the Tesla Cybertruck website:

The way Tesla markets the Cybertruck probably depends upon the target market. But the claim was that Tesla had stopped using the term "exoskeleton" because they knew it was not an exoskeleton. However, in a June 20, 2025 informational page update, you can see that Tesla has NOT backed away from the term "exoskeleton":

Superior Durability of Cybertruck HFS (Hard Freaking Stainless) | Tesla (from June 20, 2025)

And the earlier video with Lars Moravy specifically stating that it was a very stiff exoskeleton that gave the Cybertruck it's good ride qualities. Call it what you will but the people arguing voraciously that the marketing term "exoskeleton" is inaccurate (when exoskeleton has no engineering definition because it's a biology term) are just looking sillier and sillier with their weak attempts to throw shade on anything that Tesla uses to market their vehicles.

Don't they ever get tired of pushing false narratives and looking foolish? Tesla is not stopping the use of the term "exoskeleton". The link above proves this beyond any doubt.

 

[YDR37]

.... CT sales in 2Q 2025 probably were somewhere around 5,000 to 5,500 units. ...

Cox Automotive provides more detailed quarterly estimates of EV sales in the US, but their 2Q 2025 report won't be available until later this month. For 1Q 2025, they estimated 6,406 CT sales in the US, along with 3,843 Model X sales and 1,280 Model Y sales. Those numbers will likely be lower for 2Q 2025.

Just to follow up, Cox released the 2Q 2025 report and estimated 4,306 Cybertruck sales in the US. There's probably a few hundred more in Canada and Mexico, but the total was apparently a little lower than the estimated 5,000+. More info in this thread.

 

[ZillaVilla]

Why not give up on the hard to maintain stainless steel body and press the body panels out of aluminum instead.

I just run mine through the car wash (unlimited washes $20 a month) and then wipe it down with a rag. Not hard to maintain at all. If I got obsessive about water spots, it would be different, but it's not a problem, and I think it looks great as is. The toughest part is getting the inside windshield nice and clear.

IN FACT, GROK SAYS:
Stainless steel forms its own protective layer through a process called passivation, which is due to its high chromium content (typically at least 10.5% by weight). Here's how it works:

1. Chromium Reaction with Oxygen: When stainless steel is exposed to oxygen in the air or water, the chromium in the alloy reacts with oxygen to form a thin layer of chromium oxide (Cr₂O₃) on the surface. This layer is only a few nanometers thick but extremely dense and stable.
2. Self-Healing Property: The chromium oxide layer is self-healing. If the surface is scratched or damaged, exposing the underlying metal, the chromium in the steel reacts with oxygen again to repair the oxide layer, restoring its protective barrier.
3. Corrosion Resistance: The chromium oxide layer is chemically inert and tightly adheres to the steel, preventing oxygen, moisture, and corrosive substances (like salts or acids) from reaching the underlying iron. This protects the steel from rusting or corroding, unlike regular carbon steel.
4. Role of Other Elements: Alloying elements like nickel and molybdenum (found in many stainless steel grades) enhance the stability and corrosion resistance of the oxide layer, especially in harsh environments like acidic or saline conditions.
5. Conditions for Passivation: The formation and maintenance of this layer depend on the presence of oxygen. In oxygen-deprived environments (e.g., under deposits or in stagnant water), the layer may not form or repair effectively, potentially leading to localized corrosion like pitting.

In summary, stainless steel "grows" its protective layer naturally through the reaction of chromium with oxygen, creating a durable, self-repairing chromium oxide film that shields the metal from corrosion.

---- I like my Cybertruck 'Naked'

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