Will the Tesla Cybertruck be the toughest truck ever built, or is it going to be a flash-in-the-pan fad that goes away in a few years? This new electric truck is the brainchild of Elon Musk, who proudly showed off this impressive machine on an episode of Jay Leno’s Garage. The Cybertruck is said to be bulletproof, offers acceleration that rivals sports cars, and is extremely capable.  Will it be competitive in a market where both Ford and Chevy have an electric truck?

Delays, delays, and more delays for the Tesla Cybertruck

Before the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, chip shortage, and the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Tesla already had trouble sticking to a timeline. That hasn’t been a problem for this company so far. While we might be upset if a mainstream company pushed dates back or promised something but never truly delivered, somehow, Tesla is immune to this. Both the Model 3 and Model X faced extensive delays; neither had trouble selling at a high rate. That could be the same for the Cybertruck. Car and Driver tells us Tesla has removed the production timeline from its website. Previously, the scheduled production timeline was late in 2022, but now, we have no idea when production will begin.

Can Tesla compete with Ford and Chevy?

The reach of Ford and Chevy is much greater than Tesla can provide, but model by model, it’s possible the EV brand could compete. Even though the Cybertruck showed up first, Ford is already beginning production of the new Ford F-150 Lightning electric truck, while the Chevrolet Silverado EV should arrive in 2023 as a 2024 model. With electric versions of the F-150 and Silverado, will truck shoppers look to the Cybertruck or stick to the names they know?

How tough is the Cybertruck?

While we’re uncertain of the bulletproof nature claimed by Elon Musk, the exterior design does allow this truck to be extremely durable and provide excellent protection for passengers. The goal is to provide us with an electric truck that offers superior strength and endurance. As for that endurance factor, the Cybertruck EV truck claims a 500-plus driving range and enough juice to hit 60 mph in 2.9 seconds. These numbers are for models with the tri-motor configuration. Tesla also claims a 14,000 towing capacity for the new electric truck while providing a 3,500 payload rating.

How much will the new Tesla Cybertruck cost?

This is the big question. If the truck falls in line with the Model X, it will be too expensive for most truck owners. Thankfully, that’s not the case. According to Autoweek, the promised starting price for the Cybertruck is $39,990. This will likely be for a model that doesn’t have the tri-motor setup, but it’s a good starting point. The Ford F-150 Lightning starts at $39,974 and, the Chevy Silverado EV will cost $39,900. This tells us Tesla has their truck priced right.

Can the Tesla electric truck compete with Ford and Chevy?

Tesla has a following that is almost cultish. People seem to flock to this brand and pay attention to everything coming out of the Tesla factory. The strong support for Tesla tells us the Cybertruck will compete well with Ford and Chevy when it arrives. We might not see this Tesla truck pulling a heavy load, but then again, we could. If the Cybertruck makes it to production at the new Austin, Texas Tesla plant, it could be a serious contender in the new EV truck market.