Tesla, a future case study for securities law classes across America, had to stop delivering Cybertrucks this past weekend. No, not because the hundred-thousand–dollar medium-duty pickup, which is only any of those things in the loosest interpretive sense, tends to brick when it gets rained on; nor because its stainless steel panels get all rusty and nasty-looking after weeks exposed to the rare, harsh condition of "being outside." Perhaps you think it has something to do with the shorter-than-advertised driving range and longer-than-advertised charging time, but no: Rather, the cause of this snag is that the trucks struggle with the basics of stopping and going, by which I mean that the accelerator pedal cover slides off and gets stuck under a panel and locks the accelerator pressed down and keeps the Cybertruck stuck at maximum velocity.
Other Tesla models have had issues with speeding up and slowing down at the wrong times. The company was sued in 2017 by drivers whose cars drove themselves unexpectedly through garages and into walls; a German paper reported last year on over 2,400 complaints about sudden braking problems; and a safety researcher published a white paper showing how voltage spikes could lead Teslas to speed up without warning. You are supposed to like this because it means you are on the cutting edge, helping Elon Musk in his quest to save humanity.
Suckers who ordered Cybertrucks a few months or years ago and expected deliveries this weekend did not get their cars, nor a precise explanation for why they did not get their cars, but instead were simply told, "Hi, we have just been informed of an unexpected delay regarding the preparation of your vehicle. We need to cancel your delivery appointment for tomorrow and we will reach out again when we’re able to get you back on the schedule." Maybe someone with a hot glue gun will get on this one.
Elon seems like a douche. So I think we're on the same page there. But if we're calling the Cybertruck literal shit, then we've lost the meaning of the word. The product seems to have some crappy flaws. But it is a first gen of a radical new idea. I personally really like finally seeing some innovation when it comes to automotives. It feels like no one's really tried to make a big change up in decades. Everything on the street is the same concept in 4 different shapes. Every now and then they add a no-brainer feature like Bluetooth and that's it. The Cybertruck looks like a totally unique new electric pickup built with stainless steel, a 4-wheel steering system, and steel rolling bed cover. I don't see a reason to buy it myself, but I get why someone would. And I'm really happy that someone is trying something new in a stagnant market.
If the product is shitty, then by all means call it out. But I think understanding why some people are excited for it is worthwhile. No one is asking you to eat this particular "shit soup."
Radical new ideas like a pedal you push with your foot to accelerate it?
Geo cube, pt cruiser, smart car... All of these had radical shapes without forgetting how to make a gas pedal. There have been several vehicles which have used novel composite body materials. There certainly have been other vehicles, even trucks with 4 wheel steering. While these might be new FOR TESLA, they aren't new. Tesla already makes other electric vehicles, that's not only not new, it isn't new FOR THEM.
DeLorean (minus the cocaine... Maybe?) for the stainless steel...
I like how two of your examples were similar cube like cars which themselves have been around forever
The PT Cruiser is literally a retro design
I'm all for criticizing Cybertruck. People need to know the shortcomings. Especially if there's dangerous issues. But like, I appreciate one of these wacky concept cars actually being released.