Elon drives Tesla Cybertruck production candidate

Elon Musk, never one to shy away from the limelight, recently took a joyride in what he calls a "production candidate" Tesla Cybertruck. Forget beta prototypes, this baby is almost ready to roll into your driveway - if you believe the buzz.

Musk shared a candid shot of himself enjoying a spin in this nearly-finalized version of Tesla's electric truck on the platform X (because calling it Twitter is just too 2020, apparently). The sheer glee evident on Musk's face led him to declare, "I think this is our best product ever." A lofty claim, considering Tesla's lineup of innovative vehicles.

For the nearly two million individuals who've pre-ordered this futuristic piece of machinery (or for anyone rooting for electric vehicles), this sounds like music to their ears. But for the skeptics among us, it's essential to approach this with a dash of caution.

Just drove the production candidate Cybertruck at Tesla Giga Texas! pic.twitter.com/S0kCyGUBFD

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 23, 2023

It's curious, despite the tantalizing snapshot and bold claims, how Mr. Musk remained somewhat mum on the finer details of the Cybertruck. Eager fans and potential buyers are left biting their nails about delivery start dates and other specifics.

Whether Tesla stays mum or not about details, there’s no hiding that the production of the Cybertruck at Giga Texas is underway. Albeit slow to start, with all vehicles leaving the production line now being classed as "production candidates" - once those units get a final sign-off, the next step will be production ramp up.

But what does “production candidate” mean, exactly? For those not in the automotive loop, think of it as the final draft of a vehicle, just a smidge away from the full production version. It's the last pitstop before mass production, sans the handcrafting that goes into beta prototypes.

that smile says it all pic.twitter.com/f7TFoDWE8x

— DogeDesigner (@cb_doge) August 23, 2023

Recent sightings of Cybertrucks in transit and on test drives across the U.S. are likely these so-called "production validation" units. And if that's the case, it could signify that the long-anticipated initial deliveries might kick off sooner than expected. Those trucks in transit were most likely destined for Tesla employees, the first ones to get their hands on this futuristic machine.

In an earnings call for Q1 2023, Musk hinted at a Cybertruck handover event scheduled for the end of the third quarter. Which, for those without a calendar at hand, points to September 2023. And wouldn't it be a delightful twist if Tesla, known for its ambitious timelines (and sometimes delays), was actually punctual this go-around?

It's been nearly four years since Tesla first teased the world with the Cybertruck concept. And now, as the clock ticks closer to its purported release, it seems the electric vehicle scene's biggest sensation is ready to make its mark. Or, at the very least, generate a flurry of new tweets, articles, and heated debates.

Via