Tesla is reportedly aiming to produce 375,000 units per year for its highly anticipated Cybertruck. The company had previously announced in January that production of the Cybertruck would commence at its Texas plant sometime in 2023.
This latest information regarding the production target for the Cybertruck comes from reliable sources at Tesla who communicated the details to the suppliers. The sources also indicate that Tesla plans to manufacture the first examples of the Cybertruck by the end of August, with full-scale series production commencing in early October. It is worth noting that Tesla has not yet unveiled a production version of the electric pickup, and the final pricing details have not been disclosed either.
The Tesla Cybertruck was initially revealed in November 2019, and since then, the company has encountered several delays in starting its production. The timeline has been pushed back three times, first from late 2021 to late 2022, then to early 2023, and most recently to a vague “early production” phase starting from mid-2023.
One of the factors contributing to these delays, according to a previous report by Reuters, has been logistical issues with battery cell supply. Tesla has been striving to produce its own 4680-format cells, but the energy density targets for the first-generation cells have not been met yet. To mitigate this, Tesla is considering sourcing 4680 battery cells from Panasonic and LG Energy Solution for the initial production of the Cybertruck.
Tesla’s in-house production of 4680 cells is currently based in Fremont, California, with additional facilities planned in Texas, California, Nevada, and Berlin. In December, the company achieved a production rate of 868,000 4680 cells in Fremont within a week, which would be sufficient for approximately 1,000 electric cars. While the Model Y, produced at Giga Texas, incorporates the 4680 round cells in its structural battery pack, the production of Model Y variants with traditional battery packs and 2170 cells continues in Austin, Texas, as the 4680 production capacity is not yet enough to meet the demand.
As Tesla strives to overcome the challenges and delays associated with battery cell logistics and energy density targets, the automotive world eagerly awaits the arrival of the Cybertruck. With its bold and futuristic design, Tesla’s electric pickup truck has already garnered significant attention and is poised to make a significant impact on the automotive market once it enters production.