Tesla Inc plans to begin beginning production of its much-anticipated Cybertruck by the end of the first quarter of 2023, a source familiar with the subject told Reuters on Thursday.
According to the source, the delay is due to Tesla tweaking the electric pickup’s features and functions in order to create an appealing product as the segment’s competition heats up. Tesla will produce a limited number of Cyber trucks in the first quarter of 2023 before ramping up production.
Tesla, the world’s largest electric car manufacturer, produces electric cars and sport utility vehicles but has largely avoided the lucrative and popular pickup truck category in the United States.
Elon Musk, the future vehicle’s creator, had already postponed its production from late 2021 to late 2022.
Musk has stated that he will offer an updated product roadmap at Tesla’s earnings call on January 26. When queried about the Cybertruck, he tweeted in late November, “Oh man, this year has been such a supply chain nightmare & it’s not finished!”
Tesla’s Cybertruck order page abruptly removed a mention to its production schedule. “You will be able to complete your configuration when production approaches in 2022,” the website claimed last month. The phrase “in 2022” has now been removed. Tesla intends to build the Cybertruck at its Texas factory, which is set to begin producing Model Y automobiles early this year.