Tesla has delayed deliveries of its Cybertruck in recent days, according to customers, the latest setback for the automaker, which is facing weakening demand for its electric vehicles, The Wall Street Journal reports, according to UNN.
Details
Customers say Tesla has postponed the scheduled delivery date for the stainless steel pickup without explanation. It is impossible to determine how many customers are affected.
The Cybertruck, Tesla's new electric car, hit the market in November. Elon Musk, the company's CEO, has warned that this model is unlikely to generate significant cash flow by the end of the year. The unusual-looking pickup truck catches the eye when it is seen on the street. It is not as common as other Tesla models, but it is driven by celebrities such as Kim Kardashian, the publication notes.
Tesla, the world's most expensive automaker, used Cybertruck to try to revive interest in electric vehicles, which has declined significantly in recent years. Tesla shares fell to their lowest level in almost a year on Tuesday, the day after the company said it plans to lay off more than 10% of its workforce worldwide. Two of Musk's top deputies also announced that they were leaving Tesla.
One Cybertruck buyer, Max Pico of Birmingham, Alabama, said he was supposed to pick up his Cybertruck on April 13, but received a text message warning him that the delivery had been canceled. Pico, a 41-year-old doctor, was given a tentative new date of April 20.
Other Cybertruck buyers have also complained on message boards that deliveries for them have been postponed. Buyers from across the country said that Tesla notified them of the delay hours or days before they were supposed to receive their vehicles, the newspaper writes.
It is unclear what caused the delay. At least one Cybertruck owner reported on social media that his "accelerator pedal got stuck when the panel broke off the top of the pedal." The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration was quoted as saying on Tuesday that it was aware of the problem and had "contacted the manufacturer to gather additional information.
In January, Tesla announced a recall of the Cybertruck 2024 and other Tesla models. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said that when the vehicles flashed their warning lights, the font size was small and difficult to read, increasing the risk of an accident.
According to Tesla's website, the cheapest Cybertruck model sells for about $76,000, and the more expensive version, called the Cyberbeast, costs about $96,000. For comparison, the cheapest Model 3 sells for less than a third of the price of the Cyberbeast.
Currently, the Cybertruck can be ordered on Tesla's website with delivery next year. The automaker said that a less expensive model of the Cybertruck will be available next year. Tesla said that the model can drive off-road and be used for towing cargo.
Addendum
Tesla reported that its global car deliveries were down 8.5% in the first three months of this year, compared to a year earlier. The company is facing growing competition from Chinese automakers. Tesla competes with Chinese electric car maker BYD, which reported a jump in sales last month.