Tesla announced its decision to recall nearly all of its Cybertrucks in the United States on Thursday (March 20), in order to fix an exterior panel that could detach while driving and pose safety risks. This is not the first time that the company has been forced to recall the the pick-up truck, something that has long been a pet project of company CEO Elon Musk. The vehicle’s unusual appearance has attracted both interest and mockery. Its first public demonstration in 2019 was held to show that its stainless steel exterior and metal windows were shatter-resistant. However, a metal ball thrown at two of its windows during the demo instantly smashed them. The trucks eventually hit the road in November 2023, although they continue to be plagued by several issues. The latest recall comes at a time when Musk has risen to become a close adviser to US President Donald Trump, even as his company faces increasing competition and questions about growth. The story of the Cybertruck Musk has discussed the concept of a Cybertruck-like vehicle, with a futuristic design, a race-car-like feel while driving, and the capacity to haul significant weight since the early 2010s. However, following the conceptualising stage, several production delays hampered deliveries by two years, from 2021 to 2023. One reason was the shortage in sourcing components. The stainless steel alloy used for its exterior was also used for the Musk-owned company SpaceX’s Starship rocket. Then came difficulties in accurately replicating the design during production. A 2023 Fast Company report cited Musk’s internal email to Tesla employees, where he said, “Due to the nature of Cybertruck, which is made of bright metal with mostly straight edges, any dimensional variation shows up like a sore thumb.” The Covid-19 pandemic further impacted the delivery timeline. In 2023, Musk said, “We dug our own grave with the Cybertruck.” He added that it was a “special product” and “just incredibly difficult to bring to market to reach volume, to be prosperous.” Today, the electric vehicle can seat six people, is equipped with supervised self-driving capabilities, and has 11,000 pounds (almost 5,000 kg) of hauling capacity and considerable cargo space. Initially, the basic model was supposed to cost around $39,900 (roughly Rs 34 lakhs), but the price went up to $60,990 (around Rs 52 lakhs) by the time of release. Past recalls, safety concerns This is the eighth recall of Cyberstrucks in the brief period in which they have been on the roads. Around 46,000 vehicles – almost all of the total number produced – have been recalled. Most have been sold in the US because the other major market, Europe, has strict road safety restrictions for trucks of its size and shape. The latest recall concerned a stainless steel strip called a cant rail assembly, located between the windshield and the roof on both sides. The structural adhesive used to secure it was found vulnerable to “environmental embrittlement,” the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said. The new version will use a different adhesive, with added reinforcements. In the past, other issues included unintended acceleration from trapped pedals, failure of windshield wipers, and inverter fault resulting in loss of drive power. The NHTSA website also lists two ongoing investigations, including one into the failure of its self-driving mechanism during low visibility. The road ahead for Tesla Cybertrucks comprise a small share of Tesla’s overall sales. However, the latest recall is not great news for a company that has lately struggled to regain its lead in the EV sector. As The Indian Express reported last year, the company missed its earnings target amid lower demand. A major drawback is that there is still no mass-market entry-level “low-cost family” car in Tesla’s line-up, something that Musk had identified as the company’s primary mission back in 2006. Its cheapest vehicle, the Model 3 sedan, sells for almost $40,000 (about Rs 34 lakh) in the US. Moreover, the rise of cheaper alternatives from Chinese EV companies like BYD has further highlighted the vacuum in Tesla's offerings. Its models can cost half as much as Tesla's or even lower in some countries. BYD overtook Tesla to become the world’s best-selling EV brand in the last three months of 2023, though the US company had greater annual sales that year. BYD sales also surpassed Tesla's in the last quarter of 2024.
