The Tesla Cybertruck could cost a million dollars
According to Tesla CEO Elon Musk, a cybertruck could cost a million US dollars apiece if the company can’t get the production of the new 4680 battery cells under control.
The optically extremely unusual Cybertruck is to be produced from 2022 and sold at a price of around $ 50,000. That was the previous assumption. On the occasion of the presentation of the quarterly figures, Musk has now warned that each Cybertruck could cost “literally a million dollars”.
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4680 battery production issues not resolved
Of course, this only applies if Tesla does not solve the existing problems with the production of the modern 4680 battery cell presented on the occasion of Battery Day last fall. Both the Cybertruck and the Semi-Truck, Tesla’s tractor unit under development, are designed around the 4680 cell.
Should Tesla only be able to build the Cybertruck in small series because the cells are not available in the appropriate quality and quantity, this would have an extreme effect on the unit price, according to Musk. The Tesla boss could even imagine prices above a million dollars. Economies of scale from mass production are important elements in keeping the costs for the individual vehicle under control, Musk pointed out.
Perspective for 4680 cell unclear
When the issues with mass production of the 4680 cells will be resolved, Musk cannot say. There have been many nightly meetings with suppliers to find ways to secure volume production. However, it remains difficult to estimate when the last technical problem will be resolved in the long term.
Tesla is currently sticking to plans to begin production of the cybertruck by the end of this year. Tesla recently postponed the semi-truck to 2022. By the end of this year, a production facility is to be set up that will enable the production of five semis per week.
Global shortage of microchips does not reduce profitability
In addition, there is the global shortage of microchips, which is putting the entire technology sector under pressure, including Tesla. Setting up its own chip production would cost the automaker “12 to 18 months” and that would then be “lightning fast”, according to Musk.
The bottlenecks have not yet reduced the manufacturer’s profitability. The latest quarterly figures show that Tesla remains extremely successful in its core business of electricity production.
