Tesla shared a group photo featuring company employees and the first serial copy of the Cybertruck electric pickup, and the moment was posted on Twitter. In the shot, the electric vehicle sits amid a cluster of factory workers, suggesting that the first Cybertruck rolled off the Texas production line. The scene was festive, with many workers signaling their pride by forming the Tesla logo, the iconic T, with their hands held high. The atmosphere captured a milestone for the company as it moved closer to scaling up production of an electric pickup that has long been part of Tesla’s bold lineup.
The Cybertruck first entered public discussion in November 2019 when Elon Musk introduced the design and promised a new era for electric pickup trucks. The event is also remembered for a moment when Musk tested the strength of a glass panel on stage, an moment that drew widespread attention and a mix of astonishment and humor as the glass unexpectedly cracked. The episode became a defining talking point about the vehicle and the ambitious testing culture surrounding it, underscoring the high-risk, high-reward approach Tesla has often embraced in showcasing its innovations.
Initial plans for mass production placed the rollout in 2021, but timeline shifts characterized the project as development continued. Musk frequently revised the schedule as production logistics, supply chains, and engineering challenges were addressed. By the start of 2023, Musk communicated a clear expectation that the first electric pickups would come off the line by mid-2023, with mass production anticipated to begin closer to 2024. This cadence reflected Tesla’s broader strategy of gradually expanding capacity while validating the product in real-world manufacturing conditions, rather than rushing the process.
Industry analysts watched closely as Deutsche Bank’s Emmanuel Rosner offered an anticipated figure for deliveries in 2023, projecting around 2,000 Cybertrucks. While this would represent a small portion of the company’s overarching production targets, it would still mark a meaningful step toward a broader, sustained rollout. Rosner’s outlook framed the Cybertruck as part of a larger, ambitious plan to scale electric vehicle production and diversify the company’s offerings, rather than a one-off launch. Tesla’s leadership and operational teams, in this view, would need to balance demand forecasting, production efficiency, and quality control to convert early builds into a stable stream of vehicles for customers.
Before the public pre-production version of the Cybertruck was unveiled, the project had already generated substantial attention across media, investors, and potential buyers. The pre-production phase served as a crucial bridge between concept and market introduction, allowing the company to validate manufacturing processes, supply chain arrangements, and feature readiness. The public display of the pre-production model helped illustrate the vehicle’s distinctive design language and promised capabilities while inviting feedback from various stakeholders. This transitional period contributed to shaping expectations for later mass production and customer delivery timelines, as the company refined its approach to meeting demand across diverse regions.