TechCrunch Mobility: The Cybertruck experiment is over
Welcome back to TechCrunch Mobility, your hub for the future of transportation and now, more than ever, the role AI is playing in it.
Welcome to TechCrunch Mobility, bringing you the latest on transportation and the role of AI in it. This story focuses on Tesla's failed Cybertruck experiment, which was discontinued at the end of 2023. The Cybertruck generated significant buzz when it was first unveiled at a Tesla event in 2019, with attendees reacting with a mix of shock, revulsion, and support.
By the time the vehicle was available for reservations, the enthusiasm had turned into a fanatical following, resulting in 1 million reservations. However, despite these high numbers, only around 71,000 Cybertrucks have been sold since deliveries began in November 2023. The company's CEO, Elon Musk, announced that production of the Cybertruck would cease the following year.
The high price tag and range limitations may have played a role in the vehicle's poor sales performance. Meanwhile, drone delivery startup Zipline has seen tremendous growth, raising $1.5 billion and partnering with Walmart to add 300 drone delivery sites across the United States. Electric truck startup Harbinger and Humble Robotics have also secured significant funding for their respective ventures.
Amazon has ended its partnership with Grubhub and made Uber Eats its official restaurant delivery partner for Prime members. Ford has launched a website to educate customers about its data privacy practices. And Uber has ended its exclusive relationship with Waymo for Uber Eats deliveries in Austin and Atlanta.
Written by urgent.news from TechCrunch's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
