The first Tesla Cybertruck production version is scheduled to be delivered to customers on November 30 at the Gigafactory in Austin, Texas. According to new information, the polarizing electric truck may prioritize style over substance.
A photo from a Tesla showroom in San Diego revealed that the Cybertruck has a towing capacity of 11,000 pounds and a payload capacity of 2,500 pounds in its truck bed. At its introduction four years ago, Elon Musk said that the top trim version of the Cybertruck would boast a maximum towing capacity of 14,000 pounds and a payload capacity of 3,500 pounds.
Therefore, the Cybertruck’s towing capacity is 21% less than promised, and its payload capacity is 29% less than promised.
The Tesla Cybertruck falls in line with its electric pickup competitors in terms of towing capacity. According to TheStreet, the Rivian R1T also has an 11,000 pound towing capacity, while the Ford F-150 Lightning can tow a maximum of 10,000 pounds.
In addition, the Cybertruck beats the R1T and the F-150 Lightning in terms of payload capacity. The R1T has a capacity of 1,760 pounds, while the F-150 Lightning has a capacity of 2,235 pounds.
However, the Cybertruck falls quite short of Musk’s promise that it would be the “world’s toughest truck.” The Ram 3500 pickup has a towing capacity of up to 23,000 pounds.
Other aspects of the Cybertruck have also fallen short of expectations.
A post last month in a Cybertruck Facebook group suggested that the vehicle is likely to cost around $99,000, 40% more than originally promised. In addition, recent government documents indicate that the highly anticipated $40,000 Cybertruck may never happen.
Moreover, many Cybertruck prototypes have had misaligned panels with large gaps between them. The stainless steel used to manufacture the Cybertruck is reportedly curving even after undergoing a flattening process.
Image Source: Brian Basson
