Tesla’s Cybertruck Design Flaw Exposed in Embarrassing Demo
During the 2019 reveal of the Tesla Cybertruck, chief designer Franz von Holzhausen threw steel balls at the vehicle to demonstrate its sturdiness.
However, the windows shattered, leaving CEO Elon Musk to deliver the rest of his presentation in front of the damaged car.
The incident seemed like a bad omen for the Cybertruck’s success, but von Holzhausen calls it a “great marketing moment.”
Tesla’s Response to the Cybertruck’s Design Flaw
Following the reveal, Musk posted a video of von Holzhausen throwing a steel ball at the Cybertruck, with its windows withstanding the force.
Days later, Musk touted the success of the Cybertruck launch, saying Tesla had received over 200,000 orders for the vehicle.
Despite the initial success, the Cybertruck faced years of delays and had a price tag of $60,990 when it debuted in November 2023.
Cybertruck’s Troubled History
The vehicle’s demand remained steady last year, but Cybertrucks were piling up in lots over the summer as dealerships navigated stockpiles of unwanted vehicles.
Just 16,097 Cybertrucks were delivered in the first three quarters of this year, a 38% year-over-year decrease.
The model was eclipsed by the beleaguered Ford F-150 Lightning, which is being discontinued in its all-electric form due to falling demand.
Recent Developments
Sales of the Tesla truck have been so dire that the Musk-owned SpaceX has purchased 1,000 Cybertrucks from Tesla and may purchase up to 2,000 vehicles.
Earlier this year, another Musk-founded company, xAI, reportedly purchased unsold Cybertrucks.
Tesla did not respond to Fortune’s request for comment.
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