Cybertruck owners have been put through a lot. Since the announcement of Tesla’s new flagship vehicle, the problems have come fast and hard for Elon Musk and Tesla. The latest issue stems around the range extender for the Cybertruck. Elon Musk has become synonymous with outlandish claims regarding all his companies. He claimed that the Cybertruck would be capable of 500 miles between charges, the customers that have bought the Cybertruck have stated that number is closer to 350 miles. The answer was supposed to be a range extender that Tesla, and only Tesla, would install in the trucks bed. Reducing its load capacity.
How did Elon Musk and Tesla misjudge the Cybertruck’s appeal so badly?
After the initial success that Tesla found , the Cybertruck was hailed as the next step in the EV evolution. The one type of EV you couldn’t get was a large truck. Tesla sought to remedy that with the Cybertruck. Musk made some truly ridiculous claims about the truck being bullet proof as well as the exaggerated range. Musk is no stranger to stirring up controversy with his claims, in fact he seems to thrive on it.
Musk made some similarly outlandish claims about his other company, SpaceX. The enigmatic “tycoon” has, on numerous occasions, made claims about sending humans to Mars and the timeline to do so. As well as some futuristic claims about the new Tesla Roadster, Musk has all but destroyed his reputation and in turn, Tesla’s as well. Which has now had a disastrous effect on the company’s stock price.
One might pose the question, if Tesla timed the release of the Cybertruck better, would the experience have been different? The timing of the release came just after Elon Musk and his DOGE associates made huge cuts to federal institutions that led to lay-offs for thousands of people. The reaction from the American public was intense with Tesla dealerships and Cybertrucks in specific being set on fire around the country.
What is the latest problem for the Cybertruck and its customers?
When the Cybertruck released, the range was nowhere near what Elon Musk had promised. As a result, Tesla gave the customers the opportunity to pay a deposit for the range extender that they were working on. However, in April of this year, Tesla removed the option from their website, leading to speculation that they would scrap the idea completely.
The question then becomes, what of the customers who paid that initial deposit for the range extender? News organizations like The Verge, Electrek and Carscoops have all been reporting the same thing. That Tesla has quietly sent out an email to those customers who were “brave” enough to cough out their hard earned money for the range extender, which only Tesla could install by the way.
The reputable news organizations have reported that Tesla’s email stated that the customers would receive their $2,000 deposit back and also receive one year free usage of Tesla’s FSD(Full Self Driving) technology. Something that has also come under heavy scrutiny as the system is not considered road safe. The problems for Tesla are mounting and the rumors are that the board are looking for a new CEO.
Can Tesla make a return to the top of the EV sector if Musk vacates his CEO position?
While America deals with the Cybertruck and Musk, Europe wants nothing to do with the Cybertruck and its problems. The Tesla board are surely in panic mode regarding the company’s stock price dropping at a record pace. Musk has gone so far as to refer to the vandalism towards Tesla’s dealerships as “terrorism”. Musk has a way of stirring the pot in the wrong direction, a consequence we suspect of being the richest man in the world. His reality and everyday thought process is difficult to get your head around. Whatever happens, the Cybertruck is facing a harsh future.
