The Cybertruck was recently shown off in a matte black wrap
SawyerMerritt/X
The Tesla Cybertruck was on display in Malibu on Sunday. It wasn't the stainless steel beast that was catching rays. No, Tesla's Chief designer, Franz von Holzhausen, went for a Sunday drive in a matte black Cybertruck.
Remember when "experts" thought the Cybertruck appeal would wear off because there would be too many that look alike? Well, the wrap game changes all of that, and Tesla has done a great job demonstrating that over the past few months.
The Aesthetic Array of Cybertruck Wraps
Since its unveiling, the Cybertruck has promised a departure from the mundane, and the various wraps spotted recently solidify this claim. Here are some of the unique skins that have adorned the Cybertruck's angular frame:
Matte Black: Sleek and undeniably badass, the matte black wrap gives the Cybertruck a stealthier yet distinguished presence.
A camo-wrapped Cybertruck
tenetenergy/X
Camo: For those looking to blend in (or stand out), camo wraps take the Cybertruck from an urban warrior to a potential wilderness navigator.
A 'digital camo' wrap on the Tesla Cybertruck
kjoule11/X
Digital Camo: This option brings a touch of modernity to the classic pattern, offering a pixelated twist on concealment.
The Cybertruck was seen with a graffiti-like font on the side
SERobinsonJr/X
Graffiti: The Cybertruck that took a tour through Baja had a graffiti "Cybertruck" on the side.
Oracle showed off what a law enforcement Cybertruck could look like
Oracle
Oracle: Larry Ellison showed just how fantastic a company logo will look on the side and the hood of these futuristic trucks
The Cybertruck was found with yet another wrap, this time resembling a F150
John Anderson
Faux Ford F-150: In an old display of bravado, one wrap mimics the appearance of the Ford F-150, complete with imitated door handles. It's a playful wink at traditional truck designs, perhaps teasing at the Cybertruck's intention to disrupt.
Tesla didn't stop at the Ford F150 wrap. Shortly after the Cybertruck was spotted sporting a Toyota Tundra wrap
Cybertruck Owners Club
Faux Toyota Tundra: Not to be outdone, Cybertruck has also been spotted with a resemblance to Toyota's Tundra — another old guard truck that will soon be disrupted.
Unique Cybertruck
Adam Jonas, Morgan Stanley's managing director, advised staff to manage expectations for clients excited about investing in Tesla. He listed several reasons for downplaying the Cybertruck, calling it a financial "side-show," a "cultural/zeitgeist," and an "enthusiast/cult car."
The investment advisor called the Cybertruck the "ultimate avant-garde vehicle," believing that the unique aspects of Cybertruck will lose some appeal when there are several on the road, losing that "indescribable something." That argument is dead.
Tesla is no stranger to the concept of vehicle wraps. With the Model 3 and Model Y, they've introduced an official wrap service, suggesting that Cybertruck owners may soon have the same option. It's not just about aesthetics; these wraps come with a layer of protection against the elements and the rigors of the road.
From the practical to the peculiar, the wraps we've seen on the Cybertruck suggest that Tesla owners will have no shortage of options to make their electric pickup their own.
Franz driving the Matte Black Cybertruck ? at the Paradise Cove Cars & Coffee. pic.twitter.com/siwk4RJvxY
Tesla has pioneered the use of single-piece castings for the front and rear sections of their vehicles, thanks to its innovative Gigapress process. Many automakers are now following suit, as this approach allows the crash structure to be integrated directly into the casting.
This makes the castings not only safer but also easier to manufacture in a single step, reducing costs and improving repairability. For example, replacing the entire rear frame of a Cybertruck is estimated to cost under $10,000 USD, with most of the expense coming from labor, according to estimates shared on X after high-speed rear collisions.
These insights come from Sandy Munro’s interview (posted below) with Lars Moravy, Tesla’s VP of Vehicle Engineering, highlighting how these advancements contribute to the improvements in Tesla’s latest vehicles, including the New Model Y.
However, with the new Model Y, Tesla has decided to go a different route and eliminated the front gigacast.
No Front Casting
Tesla’s factories aren’t equipped to produce both front and rear castings for the Model Y. Only Giga Texas and Giga Berlin used structural battery packs, but these were quickly phased out due to the underwhelming performance of the first-generation 4680 battery.
Tesla has gone back to building a common body across the globe, increasing part interchangeability and reducing supply chain complexity across the four factories that produce the Model Y. They’ve instead improved and reduced the number of unique parts up front to help simplify assembly and repair.
There is still potential for Tesla to switch back to using a front and rear casting - especially with their innovative unboxed assembly method. However, that will also require Tesla to begin using a structural battery pack again, which could potentially happen in the future with new battery technology.
Rear Casting Improvements
The rear casting has been completely redesigned, shedding 7 kg (15.4 lbs) and cutting machining time in half. Originally weighing around 67 kg (147 lbs), the new casting is now approximately 60 kg (132 lbs).
This 15% weight reduction improves both vehicle dynamics and range while also increasing the rear structure’s stiffness, reducing body flex during maneuvers.
Tesla leveraged its in-house fluid dynamics software to optimize the design, resulting in castings that resemble organic structures in some areas and flowing river patterns in others. Additionally, manufacturing efficiency has dramatically improved—the casting process, which originally took 180 seconds per part, has been reduced to just 75 seconds, a nearly 60% time reduction per unit.
Advancements in die-casting machines and cooling systems have allowed @Tesla to dramatically reduce cycle times and improve dimensional stability. pic.twitter.com/WB5ji67rvV
Tesla’s new casting method incorporates conformal cooling, which cools the die directly within the gigapress. Tesla has been refining the die-casting machines and collaborating with manufacturers to improve the gigapress process.
In 2023, Tesla patented a thermal control unit for the casting process. This system uses real-time temperature analysis and precise mixing of metal streams to optimize casting quality. SETI Park, which covers Tesla’s manufacturing patents on X, offers a great series for those interested in learning more.
The new system allows Tesla to control the flow of cooling liquid, precisely directing water to different parts of the die, cooling them at varying rates. This enables faster material flow and quicker cooling, improving both dimensional stability and the speed of removing the part from the press for the next stage.
With these new process improvements, Tesla now rolls out a new Model Y at Giga Berlin, Giga Texas, and Fremont every 43 seconds—an astounding achievement in auto manufacturing. Meanwhile, Giga Shanghai operates two Model Y lines, delivering a completed vehicle every 35 seconds.
Having the ability to open your trunk hands-free can be incredibly useful when your hands are full, especially in a busy parking lot.
Tesla vehicles now support opening the vehicle’s trunk or frunk completely hands-free — no foot waving required.
What is Hands-Free Frunk and Trunk?
Tesla implemented its hands-free feature by leveraging your phone’s position in relation to the vehicle. When you stand still behind your vehicle, the trunk will automagically open for you.
While this functionality isn’t available on every vehicle, it’s available on every vehicle Tesla manufactures today, including the new Model Y, the Cybertruck and other recent models.
With a compatible device and a supported vehicle, you can now open your Tesla’s trunk hands-free.
How It Works
Tesla’s hands-free feature requires the use of ultrawide-band (UWB) in the vehicle and on your phone. Apple and Samsung have supported ultra-wideband for a number of years and most flagship Android devices also support the low-energy feature.
Ultra-wideband allows another device to precisely detect its relative location. In this case, the vehicle is tracking where the driver’s phone is in relation to the vehicle. Since the vehicle is able to more precisely track the phone’s location, ultra-wideband also improves Tesla’s phone key feature.
Since the vehicle depends on your phone, you’ll need to have your phone on you in order to activate the hands-free feature. Simply stand within 2.5 to 3 feet from the front or rear of your vehicle for the frunk or trunk to open. You’ll then hear a couple of chimes. If you continue to stand still, then your frunk or trunk will open automatically.
The chimes serve as a warning that the trunk will open if you don’t move, which helps reduce accidental openings.
Hands-Free Trunk in Action
The video below shows how Tesla’s hands-free trunk feature works.
Supported Models
Since Tesla uses ultra-wideband to power the hands-free feature, only vehicles with the needed hardware are supported. The list of supported vehicles includes:
2021 Model S and later
2021 Model X and later
2024 Model 3 (Highland) and later
2026 Model Y (Juniper) and later
All Cybertrucks
Supported Phones
Your phone will also need to support UWB. Luckily, most manufacturers have included UWB in their devices for several years.
Apple: All Apple devices since the iPhone 11 have included UWB, except for the iPhone SE (2nd and 3rd generation). The iPhone 16e also has UWB.
Android: Most Android phones - especially flagship devices - already support and use UWB for other uses, but it’s not available on all phones. If you have a Google Pixel 6 or higher, Samsung Fold 2 or higher, Samsung S21+, or other recent Android phone, then your phone already supports ultra wideband.
Which Models Support Hands-Free Frunk
Unfortunately, not every supported model supports the hands-free frunk and trunk feature. The hands-free frunk feature is only supported on the Model S, Model X, and the Cybertruck. In addition, the Cyebrtruck is the only vehicle with a powered frunk, so while the Model S and Model X will unlock the frunk for you, you’ll still need to lift it and close it manually. The Cybertruck will open the frunk for you, much like the trunk on another Tesla.
Which Models Support Hands-Free Trunk
While most supported Tesla vehicles can use the hands-free trunk, it excludes the Cybertruck, which doesn’t have a powered trunk.
Enable Hands-Free Trunk / Frunk
If you plan to use your vehicle’s hands-free trunk feature, you’ll need to enable it in settings, as it’s off by default. Simply open Controls by tapping the vehicle icon in the bottom left corner, then navigate to the Locks section.
Within the Hands-Free section, you’ll find a few options, depending on your model. You’ll be able to choose whether to enable the hands-free frunk or trunk and whether you’d like to disable the feature at home.
Preventing Accidental Opening - Exclude Home
Although the hands-free feature requires you to stay still in front or behind your vehicle for a couple of seconds, it can still be triggered accidentally if you’re working around your garage. To prevent accidental opening of the frunk or trunk, Tesla allows you to disable the feature while your vehicle is parked at home.
Tesla determines your home location by the address that’s set in your vehicle. However, it also adds a buffer, meaning that your hands-free trunk feature will also not work in your driveway or at your neighbor’s home. The exclude home feature is located in the same spot as other hands-free trunk features, Controls > Locks > Hands-Free > Exclude Home.
If you have a recent Tesla that’s supported, go ahead and give the feature a try.
