Unveiling Tesla’s Cybertruck: Here’s everything you need to know about the highly-anticipated electric pickup

Tesla is moving forward with the long-awaited launch of its Cybertruck electric pickup. The boxy vehicle is Tesla’s first new model since 2020, when it started delivering the Model Y. Yet, Cybertruck’s initial debut predates that moment; Tesla CEO Elon Musk showed off an early version of the pickup at a memorable 2019 event.

We’ll answer some questions about Tesla’s Cybertruck, including details on the vehicle’s specs, availability, and design ahead of the first shipments of the vehicle that will come alongside a live-streamed Tesla event Thursday.

What is the Cybertruck?

The Cybertruck is a steel-clad electric pickup truck made by Tesla. According to Musk, the vehicle measures fewer than 19 feet long and features a bed longer than six feet. It has four doors and room for six adults.

Tesla shared Cybertruck specs in 2019, promising three variants of the vehicle. That included a $39,900 single-motor version with rear-wheel drive and a 250-mile range. At least one variant is reported to weigh about as much as a Hummer.

Unknowns about the final production vehicle (as of November 29, 2023) include its price range, battery range options, weight, towing capacity options and longterm delivery schedule.

Why does the Cybertruck look like that?

The electric pickup is made of steel, a tough material that resists rust but is hard to shape. The material’s rigidity influenced the EV’s starkly geometric design; it also led to launch delays and panel gaps on Cybertruck test vehicles.

Elon Musk has described the tank-like vehicle as “an armored personnel carrier from the future — what Bladerunner would have driven.”

Is the Cybertruck for sale yet?

Tesla expects to mass produce Cybertrucks starting in 2024. unless you’re a wealthy early adopter with special Tesla connections, securing a Cybertruck won’t be easy early on. You’ll need to get in line behind the folks who reserved the truck as far back as 2019.

That said, you may be able to jump ahead for a price: Apparent Cybertruck reservations have appeared on eBay for $10,000. Proceed with caution.

Can I resell my Cybertruck?

Tesla indeed threatened to punish early Cybertruck resellers, but language pertaining to reselling has been removed from Tesla’s U.S. order agreement page. It seemed to walk back its previously published rules in a November 2023 update to its U.S. order agreement page. The rules once stated that Cybertruck customers couldn’t sell their vehicles during their first year of ownership without permission from Tesla. The rules also said the company would seek $50,000 in damages from early resellers. But such language is gone from that particular page, at least for now.

Can I fit a bike in a Cybertruck’s bed?

That depends on the size of the bike and how you store it.

Elon Musk has promised that Cybertrucks will feature beds longer than six feet. Adult bicycles are typically longer than six feet. A motorcycle would probably be trickier. This isn’t a Silverado.

Is the Cybertruck good for the climate?

Electric vehicles are generally better for the climate than their gas-guzzling counterparts. Still, all cars are pollutive. That includes consumer EVs, since they require lithium, release tire particles into the air and demand more energy than more efficient means of getting around. Battery material mining is also linked to worker exploitation.

Experts have raised red flags over the ballooning size and weight of vehicles in the U.S. Extra large vehicles typically require more energy, and thus more battery materials, which drives up their environmental cost. As far as collisions go, bigger and heavier vehicles are less safe for everyone around them, especially pedestrians.

Stay tuned for more details during its November 30 delivery event. How does the Cybertruck compare to other Teslas? What about electric pickups from the competition, including Ford or GMC? When will Tesla release the cheaper, single-motor Cybertruck variant it promised back in 2019? Check back for updates as we learn more.