Gary Zhou 
Key Points
- 🚙 Tesla Cybertruck had numerous designs as Elon Musk aimed to combat “boring” pickup designs in the U.S. automotive market.
- 📷 A new image shared by Walter Isaacson reveals some of the potential designs considered for the Cybertruck before the final version was unveiled.
- 🤔 When Musk introduced the Cybertruck in 2019, it was a radical departure from traditional pickup designs, drawing both praise and comparisons to the Pontiac Aztec.
- 🚀 Musk emphasized that he wanted to make the Cybertruck edgy and unique, incorporating elements from movies, sci-fi, and video games.
- 🏭 Tesla has formally requested approval for Giga Berlin’s expansion, planning to double production capacity and achieve 100-gigawatt hours of battery production.
- 💧 Despite expansion, Tesla commits to not using additional water capacity and plans to recycle water to achieve higher vehicle production levels.
An image shared by author Walter Isaacson, who is working on a new book about Tesla CEO Elon Musk, reveals the abundance of designs considered for the Cybertruck. Musk was determined to challenge the prevalence of “boring” pickup designs that had inundated the U.S. automotive market.
The Cybertruck represents Tesla’s first foray into the pickup segment, and during its 2019 unveiling, Musk emphasized the lack of differentiation among most trucks in the U.S. market. Behind him, a screen displayed a slideshow of various pickup designs with the words “100 Years of the Same.”
When the Cybertruck made its debut on stage, it left people astounded by its unconventional design. Unlike any other pickup seen before, the Cybertruck stands out with its unique and daring look, setting it apart from traditional automakers’ offerings. Although some people have compared it to the Pontiac Aztec, there is no denying the Cybertruck’s distinctiveness and bold approach in the pickup truck domain.
Indeed, the Cybertruck was not Tesla’s initial attempt to introduce a groundbreaking product to the market with its debut pickup.
Over the course of the past three-and-a-half years, the design Musk presented has undergone evolution, with various adjustments and experiments conducted by Tesla. While the overall shape has remained consistent, the company explored different possibilities.
Author Walter Isaacson shared an image that displays a glimpse of the potential designs Tesla considered before settling on the version unveiled almost four years ago in November.
According to Isaacson, who appeared on Squawk Pod, Musk also criticized the designs of current pickups, calling them “boring:”
“He (Elon) says these things are boring. He doesn’t like to be bored. He puts up things from movies, from sci-fi, from video games, and everybody is pushing back on him at this meeting. He finally says stop it, we’re going to do it. We’re going to make it edgy.”
And without a doubt, he did. However, with the Cybertruck finally reaching initial production at Giga Texas in the past week, deliveries are expected to begin soon, but customers are still wondering about pricing of the pickup and what configurations will be available.
Tesla’s Earnings Call will occur tonight, and among the hottest retail investor questions are what will be offered to customers, and at what price.
