A fascinating piece of news has emerged about the development of Tesla’s Cybertruck. In opposition to CEO Elon Musk’s wishes, an alternative prototype coexisted with the futuristic design that was ultimately chosen.
According to Walter Isaacson’s biography on Musk, a group of Tesla engineers embarked on a secret mission to create a more conventional truck, in contrast to Musk’s innovative vision.
Although analysts have long known that the Cybertruck was controversial within Tesla, they had no clue that engineers worked on a Cybertruck alternative behind Musk’s back until now.
The existence of this second design sheds light on the internal debates and resistance faced by the Cybertruck concept. Despite some engineers disliking Musk’s futuristic and avant-garde approach, he remained determined and unwavering in his commitment to the unique design.
Musk’s intention was to surprise people with a bold vehicle, even if it went against market trends and traditional expectations.
Inspired by video games like Halo, Cyberpunk 2077, and Blade Runner, Musk aimed to create a vehicle that would break norms and captivate people’s imaginations. While some team members preferred a less radical approach, fearing that the avant-garde design might alienate traditional truck buyers, Musk upheld the boldness of his concept.
During brainstorming sessions, various design ideas were debated. Tesla engineers hoping for a more conventional truck promoted a design inspired by the Chevy Silverado.
Undeterred by the differing opinions, Musk pushed the team to complete a drivable version of the Cybertruck in just three months, instead of the usual nine. This moved up the Cybertruck’s public launch date from May 2020 to November 2019.
The presence of the alternative prototype is a reminder of the different directions that the iconic vehicle could have taken. According to Not a Tesla App, the exact details and location of this alternate version are still a mystery.
Was Musk right, or were his rebellious engineers correct? We may never know the answer.
Image Source: Leo, https://shorturl.at/bEV19
