Tesla Cybertruck to reach mass production at the end of 2023

By Gabe Rodriguez Morrison
Cybertruck production to begin next year
Cybertruck production to begin next year
Tesla

Since the Cybertruck unveiling in 2019, Tesla has pushed production dates back numerous times: from late 2021 to late 2022, to early 2023, and most recently to the mid-2023 target for initial low-volume production.

Tesla is reportedly planning to begin Cybertruck high-volume production at the end of next year. The company is preparing to set production dates according to a report from Reuters, indicating mass manufacturing of the Cybertruck to begin at the end of 2023.

It still seems that Tesla is on track to start low-volume production in mid-2023, with mass production beginning at the end of the year.

During the Q3 2022 earnings call, Tesla stated that it was working on preparing the Austin, Texas plant to build the Cybertruck, with "early production" set to begin mid-2023. During the call, Elon Musk said that Tesla is "in the final lap for Cybertruck." The Q3 2022 Shareholder Deck also listed Cybertruck's production status as in the "tooling" phase which means it's preparing for production.

This aligns with timelines from IDRA Group, the die-casting company making the 9,000-ton Giga Press that will be used for the Cybertruck. The Giga Press has reportedly arrived in Houston, Texas and can be expected to reach the Gigafactory in Austin, Texas soon.

Reuters points out that gradually ramping up Cybertruck production starting mid-2023, reaching high volume production by late 2023 would mean that some of the roughly 1 million reservation holders may have to wait more than a year before their truck is delivered.

Elon stated that the company had more orders "than we could possibly fulfill for three years after the start of production." For these reasons, Tesla stopped taking orders for the Cybertruck outside North America in May 2022.

Tesla Expected to Offer FSD Transfers in Europe

By Karan Singh
Not a Tesla App

It has been a long wait for FSD for European customers, many of whom paid for the feature years ago on now legacy hardware. While the FSD transfer program has come and gone multiple times, there’s something to be said about having it available in North America, where it can be used, and in Europe or other countries, where it still just remains the same as Enhanced Autopilot (differences between Autopilot, EAP, and FSD).

FSD Transfer is a nice goodwill gesture from Tesla that in theory doesn’t cost them anything. Instead, it keeps customers, especially those who have been waiting for years, loyal and happy. It also incentivizes them to upgrade to a newer Tesla with HW4, where FSD will hopefully be achieved.

In a reply to a post on X, Elon agreed with the suggestion that offering FSD transfers in Europe would be a fair solution for those who have already purchased FSD but can’t use its capabilities.

A Fair Solution

FSD Transfer directly addresses a growing concern for many long-term European Tesla owners. Thousands of customers purchased the full package, often many years ago, with the expectation that FSD would eventually be capable and approved for use. However, the reality is that FSD, even as an advanced driver assistance system (ADAS), continues to be pushed back in Europe.

As the regulatory process continues at a snail's pace, many of these early supporters are now reaching or have already passed the point where they’re ready to upgrade to a new Tesla.

Without the transfer program, it's a difficult choice: either throw away your original investment in FSD and pay for the package a second time (FSD price history), or subscribe to it in the future.

Offering FSD transfers is a good way for Tesla to meet them halfway. It's a difficult situation, and one that’s being hindered by processes beyond the control of both the customer and Tesla. However, a transfer helps both parties. Tesla sells another vehicle, and the customer gets to keep FSD.

When Will it Be Available?

Based on how FSD transfers have worked in the past following Elon’s announcements, this feature is likely to become available for a limited time period in the coming days or weeks. If it happens, we should expect an announcement from Tesla Europe on X and emails being sent out to Tesla customers.

Once the program is in place, all you need to do is complete your vehicle purchase and then inform your Tesla sales advisor that you’d like to transfer FSD. You don’t even have to sell or trade in your old Tesla; FSD will simply be removed from it as a feature.

Hopefully, Tesla enables FSD Transfers for everyone, regardless of region. It should be an ongoing offer until at least FSD is approved in the given country or region.

Tesla Increases Robotaxi Fare Fee, Up from $4.20

By Karan Singh
Not a Tesla App

The introductory price for Tesla’s Robotaxi Network has finally been updated. In a post on X, Elon Musk confirmed that the new fare would be rolling out to complement the new Robotaxi geofence expansion.

This change marks the first adjustment to Tesla’s fares since the initial $4.20 launch price 23 days ago. While the price increase may seem significant in terms of percentages, when compared to other options in the ride-hailing area, it is still drastically cheaper.

Context Matters

Robotaxi currently operates on a simple, flat-rate model. The new $6.90 fare gets you a ride to anywhere within the recently expanded geofence.

So far, this is the opposite approach compared to other services, such as Waymo or traditional ride-sharing options like Uber and Lyft. All these services use dynamic pricing based on distance, time of day, and demand. A comparable trip on any one of these services could cost anywhere from $30 to $65, and potentially even higher during peak hours.

That doesn’t even include the tip fees for human drivers either - another win for Robotaxi (can you tip a Robotaxi?).

Even with the adjustment, the flat $6.90 fare remains less than half the price of a typical competing ride, making Robotaxi the most affordable point-to-point transportation option in Austin, aside from mass transit, for now.

A “Maturing” Service

The price change, moving from one meme-worthy number to another, is a sign that Robotaxi is finally graduating from its initial pilot phase. Following the first major expansion of the service area, this adjustment is a logical next step towards finding a more sustainable flat price.

While the new fare is a 65% increase over the old fare, the key takeaway is that it is still far cheaper than other options, and still just as meme-worthy. Tesla is aiming to have its early access riders complete as many rides as possible during these early months, and this pricing is still very reflective of that.

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