The delivery of the Cybertruck will begin on Thursday, which is the most anticipated focus of the market.

After much anticipation, Musk's Cybertruck is finally coming!

Today, Musk once again teased on the X platform that the Cybertruck will be delivered on Thursday. Regarding the arrival of the Cybertruck, some believe that its unique appearance, which is both a selling point and a fatal weakness, is unforgettable in the market but also poses a high production difficulty.

This brings us to the special material used by Tesla this time. The Cybertruck body is made of ultra-hard stainless steel, which is ten times harder than ordinary steel and is said to be able to withstand bullet attacks. For this reason, Tesla has developed a patent for producing this ultra-hard stainless steel. Analysts point out that "this is a production nightmare."

Media reports quote insiders involved in the development of the Cybertruck as saying that this type of stainless steel is challenging in terms of bending and handling, and it tests Tesla's ability to install it accurately without creating large gaps. Furthermore, future repairs may also be a major issue. Some believe that if the body really gets dented, repairs could be very difficult.

With the "complex manufacturing process" and potentially high price, can Tesla convince investors to buy into its "quirky" appearance?

How much will the Cybertruck cost?

In the face of such a complex process, what will be the price of the Cybertruck?

Analysts point out that the price and range of the Cybertruck will determine the fate of this vehicle. Jessica Caldwell, director at Edmunds, said that the Cybertruck needs a very attractive price (similar to or lower than the Ford F-150 Lightning's starting price of $50,000) to have a chance of attracting traditional pickup truck buyers:

Tesla's first challenge will be to prove that the Cybertruck has the right functionality and then convince users to overlook the discordant design.

Dan Ives, a well-known Tesla bull and senior analyst at Wedbush Securities, said that Tesla's costs are expected to be at least $10,000 higher than the initial target, with the single-motor version priced at around $50,000 and the dual-motor and tri-motor versions priced between $60,000 and $80,000.

In 2019, when Tesla released the Cybertruck, the prices for the single-motor, dual-motor, and tri-motor configurations were $39,990, $49,990, and $69,990, respectively, but the prices have been removed from the official website in 2021.

Dan Ives stated that although the Cybertruck will not be the main driving force behind Tesla's sales, the launch of this new model is seen as having significant implications for Tesla's overall growth and may reignite the halo effect of Tesla.

So how many Cybertrucks will be delivered this time?

According to media reports citing insiders, only 10 brand new vehicles will be delivered this time, and the owners of these vehicles are all employees of Tesla.

Therefore, those who have ordered the Tesla Cybertruck will have to wait for some time.

Elon Musk is also trying to lower external expectations for the Cybertruck. Musk previously stated that while it is a great product, financially, it will take one to 18 months for this product to become a significant positive cash flow contributor. He also mentioned that the new technology involved in this vehicle will increase manufacturing difficulties, "We are like digging our own grave in developing the Cybertruck."

The Cybertruck has encountered multiple delays and significant cost overruns during its launch. Due to the manufacturing difficulties, Musk has previously warned that it will not be until at least 2025 that the Cybertruck's production capacity can reach the original plan of 250,000 vehicles per year.

Performance of the Cybertruck

Recently, Tesla's app revealed some information about the Cybertruck, including an updated 3D model and a detailed display of various vehicle details. In addition, Tesla has also released an acceleration animation in "Beast Mode."

Musk has expressed high expectations for the "Beast Mode" of the Cybertruck, hoping that the Cybertruck in this mode can achieve 0-60 mph acceleration in 3 seconds.

Tesla claims that the single-motor model can accelerate from zero to 60 mph in 6.5 seconds, with a top speed of 110 mph; the dual-motor model can accelerate from zero to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds, with a top speed of 120 mph; and the tri-motor model can accelerate from zero to 60 mph in 2.9 seconds, with a top speed of 130 mph.

According to previously disclosed information from Tesla, the Cybertruck has a towing capacity of 11,000 pounds and a payload of 2,500 pounds. In terms of performance, the Tesla Cybertruck will offer two powertrain options: dual-motor and tri-motor. The vehicle's pure electric range is up to 500 miles (approximately 804 kilometers).

At the same time, the Cybertruck will offer two different wheel sizes for users to choose from: 18 inches and 20 inches. These two wheel designs are unique, with one being taller and flatter, while the other is lower. It is expected that these two wheel options will exhibit different characteristics in off-road performance, allowing users to freely choose the wheel configuration that suits their needs.

In addition, the Cybertruck also introduces a specially designed rooftop tent that can be set up using the tailgate.

Questions about the stainless steel body of the Cybertruck

The material of the Cybertruck is primarily focused on safety. When it was released in 2019, Tesla executives used a lead ball to smash the Cybertruck's window glass to demonstrate the safety performance of the material. However, the market has different views on whether the stainless steel body of the Cybertruck will attract buyers or lead to accidents and a significant increase in repair frequency.

Insiders say that one of the reasons Tesla hopes the Cybertruck can use a metal that is "harder and thicker" than other cars is because Musk wants the Cybertruck to be bulletproof.

Analysts believe that stainless steel generally has less ductility than aluminum, which is used to manufacture car bodies, and it is also more expensive and heavier. In addition, there are different opinions on whether the stainless steel body of the Cybertruck will attract buyers or lead to accidents and a significant increase in repair frequency.

According to media reports citing insiders, the stainless steel used has been proven to be difficult to bend and manipulate, with high hardness and resistance to flattening. This metal is produced in the form of large coil rolls, similar to giant rolls of toilet paper, and even if it is unwound, it is prone to spring back to its previous curved shape:

Although the exterior panels of the Cybertruck do not require paint, Tesla plans to treat them to make the appearance more uniform. Similar to the surface of jewelry being sandblasted and polished.

The practical difficulties of "stainless steel" have also been the most important obstacle that Tesla has been trying to overcome for more than three years. Considering the bare metal color of the Cybertruck, ensuring color consistency has also become a focus of the development process. Media analysis suggests that variables such as chemical and processing technologies will also affect the appearance of stainless steel.

Once the Cybertruck is on the market, there may be other bigger challenges besides material issues. The hardness and thickness of stainless steel may make it more resistant to scratches and abrasions, but people who have worked in the metal industry have said that if the body does get dented, repairs could be very difficult.