Tesla fans have been waiting for this moment for a long time. The electric car maker has finally completed its first Tesla Cybertruck, the futuristic pickup that was unveiled in 2019 but faced multiple setbacks and challenges.
The company's CEO, Elon Musk, announced the news on Twitter on Friday, July 14, 2023, with a photo of the shiny silver vehicle rolling off the production line at Tesla's factory in Austin, Texas.
"First production Cybertruck completed today," Musk wrote. "Will be delivered to a lucky customer soon."
The Cybertruck is Tesla's most ambitious and controversial product yet. It features a stainless steel body, a bulletproof glass windshield, a 500-mile range, and a starting price of $39,900.
But it also faced a lot of criticism and skepticism for its unconventional design, which some people compared to a DeLorean or a doorstop. The truck's debut in November 2019 was marred by an embarrassing mishap when Musk tried to demonstrate its durability by throwing a metal ball at the window, only to crack it.
Since then, Tesla has been struggling to bring the Cybertruck to market amid supply chain issues, regulatory hurdles, and design changes. The company originally planned to start deliveries in late 2021 but pushed it back to late 2022 due to the global chip shortage and other factors.
Now, it seems that Tesla has finally overcome some of these obstacles and is ready to deliver its first batch of Cybertrucks to eager customers. According to its website, Tesla has received over one million reservations for the truck, which require a $100 refundable deposit.
However, not everyone who reserved a Tesla Cybertruck will get one anytime soon. Tesla said it would prioritize the more expensive versions of the truck first, such as the dual-motor and tri-motor models that cost $49,900 and $69,900, respectively. The single-motor model, which is the cheapest and most popular option, will be produced later.
Tesla also said it would initially produce only a limited number of Cybertrucks per week until it ramps up its capacity and quality. The company did not disclose how many trucks it expects to produce or deliver this year.