Tesla Inc. will begin production of the long-awaited Cybertruck pickup truck next year from its new Austin, Texas, factory, and is also developing a dedicated “robotaxi” model using the company’s autonomous vehicle software, CEO Elon Musk said during the plant’s opening day ceremony.
Musk, dressed in a cowboy hat and sunglasses, delivered the first batch of Model Y crossovers from the enormous Austin facility late Thursday, announcing that the factory would expand up to 500,000 Model Ys per year before adding Cybertruck production. Musk stated that the plant might eventually produce 1 million devices per year.
Musk hedged on a 2023 launch date for the Cybertruck on a January earnings call. The Cybertruck was originally scheduled to launch last year. Musk was more succinct this week in his assessment of the Tesla product strategy.
“We’re aiming for half a million Model Y units per year with the Model Y programme alone, and then we’re going to start manufacturing Cybertruck here next year,” Musk told thousands of cheering Tesla fans at opening day events.
Musk, 50, stated that Tesla is developing further items that will stay classified. Additionally, he stated that a bigger rollout of “beta” testing software for what Tesla refers it as “full self-driving” would occur. Only a select few clients who purchased the driver assistance programme were granted access to the complete beta version.
“I’m not going to spill all the beans right now, but what I can say is that we’re going to scale up massively,” Musk said on a stage inside the factory. “At a massive scale, fully autonomous, there will be a dedicated robotaxi that will look quite futuristic.”
Musk did not provide a detailed timeline for the rollout of delayed products, such as the second-generation Roadster sports car and the Semi cargo truck, but did state that 2023 would be more product-focused than this year. Tesla has constructed a new facility in Berlin.
“With Roadster and Semi, we’ll be in production,” Musk stated. “This year is all about scaling up, and then there will be a massive wave of new products next year.”
Cyber Rodeo was the theme of the Austin opening ceremony, which included plant visits showcasing new manufacturing techniques. Tesla will also manufacture batteries on-site, Musk stated.
Tesla fans streamed video from the Giga Texas factory on social media while touring key areas of the interior layout. Outside, a cluster of red, white, and blue Tesla Model Y automobiles was organised to resemble the Texas flag. Some people wore cowboy garb, and a mechanical bull was on show.
According to estimates, global yearly output is likely to increase from approximately 1 million vehicles last year to over 2 million in 2023 as a result of Tesla’s recent factory expansion. Tesla now has four vehicle manufacturing factories, adding Austin and Berlin to its existing facilities in Fremont, California, and Shanghai, China.
With expected first-quarter sales of 110,000 vehicles in the United States, Tesla has risen to the top of the luxury market, with demand easily outstripping supply. Wait times for new Tesla models can range from several weeks to several months, depending on the car and trim level.
Tesla is also slated to construct a more economical Model Y in Austin. The current base model in the United States, the Long Range, has a range of 330 miles and starts at $64,440 including shipping. According to Reuters, Tesla has received EPA certification for two new Model Y variants with ranges of 244 miles and 279 miles.