Tesla recently officially delivered the first batch of Cybertruck electric pickup trucks. Stainless steel body, armored glass, all-terrain tires ......The unique and avant-garde design has made it a lot of attention. However, its ** is higher than expected, the mileage is far lower than promised, and mass production has also become a major problem.
It seems to be "amazing market", but in fact, "the road is long and resistant". The market doesn't seem to be buying Tesla's Cybertruck: Tesla's shares extended their losses to 3% in late trading on Thursday after the press conference, and finally closed down nearly 2%. The cheapest version of the Cybertruck starts at US$60,990 (about 430,000 yuan), more than 50% higher than the 2019 forecast, and some analysts have pointed out that the price may reduce the attractiveness of the model.
Compared with established truck manufacturers such as Ford and General Motors, the Cybertruck does not have an advantage in terms of ** and mileage. Taking range as an example, the Cybertruck has a range of about 250 miles to 340 miles, compared to Ford's F-150 Lightning that can travel 230 miles to 320 miles on a single charge, and its basic configuration Pro model is priced at $49,995 (about 35.).70,000 yuan), which is much lower than the Cybertruck. In the years that Tesla has been developing and designing the Cybertruck, electric pickup trucks have grown rapidly in the United States. For example, the Ford F series, the highest-selling pickup truck in the United States, has sold about 63 in 2022690,000 units, a year-on-year increase of 197%。
Innovation means taking risks, and non-mainstream designs can hinder mass production, and the Cybertruck is facing a situation where it is difficult to climb the hill in mass production. The shape and manufacturing process of the pickup truck have remained largely unchanged for more than 80 years, and the Cybertruck's form and manufacturing process have been completely redesigned, but the innovation of materials and processes means that Tesla has to reinvent the device and change the manufacturing process. Some analysts have pointed out that the Cybertruck uses molded metal sheets instead of stamping machinery, a manufacturing technology that has not yet been proven at scale when Tesla launched the car in 2019 and is likely to hinder large-scale production.
In addition, the current product line cannot meet the market demand. Tesla claims that it is unlikely to produce 250,000 units a year for the Cybertruck by 2025, but it has already surpassed 2 million orders. Even with an estimated annual production capacity of 250,000 vehicles, just booking a vehicle is enough for Tesla to produce for eight years.
The Cybertruck has adversely affected Tesla's profitability, with spending exceeding expectations amid continued price cuts and declining gross margins. According to the latest financial report, Tesla's gross profit margin fell below 18% and net profit fell by 44% in the third quarter of 2023, which is the worst profitability financial report in four years. Musk explained that the lack of utilization of the new factory, the spending on projects such as the Cybertruck electric pickup truck and artificial intelligence have led to an increase in operating expenses and a hit to profit margins.
It is foreseeable that Tesla will not be able to break through the mass production of the Cybertruck, and Tesla's financial position will continue to be under great pressure at a time when demand for electric vehicles in the United States is slowing and competition is intensifying. (Author: Sun Yajun **Economy**).