The Death of the Cybertruck Is Actually Great News for the Electric Vehicle Market
This story was originally published by WIRED and is reproduced here as part of the Climate Desk collaboration. Tesla will end production of the Cybertruck at its Texas Gigafactory next year. It’s a uniquely toxic electric vehicle, between its divisive design and Elon Musk’s embrace of you name it. That toxicity certainly contributed to subpar sales, along with a number of recalls. But the end […]
Tesla has decided to cease production of the Cybertruck at its Texas Gigafactory next year, marking a potential turning point for the electric vehicle (EV) market. The Cybertruck faced criticism for its controversial design and Musk’s controversial behavior, which likely contributed to low sales. Recalls further exacerbated the vehicle’s poor performance.
However, the end of the Cybertruck may signal a broader shift in the EV landscape. The truck’s massive 123 kilowatt-hour battery, weighing around 1,600 pounds, is comparable to the battery in Ford’s F-150 Lightning, another electric truck that was discontinued last year. Ford and startup Slate are both developing smaller, more affordable electric pickups, with base models starting under $25,000.
Rivian is also developing a smaller SUV, the R2, and has hinted at an even smaller model in the future. While big EVs like the Kia EV9 and R1S remain popular, the trend towards smaller, more affordable electric vehicles may help address concerns about battery supply chains and make EVs more accessible to a wider range of consumers.
With EV incentives potentially returning under a Democratic administration, the EV market could see significant growth in the coming years.
Written by urgent.news from Mother Jones's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
