Tesla Considers Smaller Pickup Truck Amid Cybertruck Sales Struggles

According to reports from foreign media, as Tesla's Cybertruck sales continue to be sluggish, the company is considering developing a smaller-sized pickup truck to boost sales. Tesla CEO Elon Musk mentioned during the initial launch of the Cybertruck that if this controversially designed vehicle ultimately fails, Tesla would introduce another model with less controversy, stating that the company is prepared with alternatives. Currently, the Cybertruck's performance has not met expectations. Tesla initially projected an annual production of 250,000 units, with Musk suggesting it could be increased to 500,000 in the future. However, the current annual sales of the vehicle are only about 20,000 units, which is approximately 10% of the set capacity. Despite the underperformance of the Cybertruck, Tesla has not yet initiated the development of a replacement model. Recently, Tesla's Vice President of Vehicle Engineering, Lars Moravy, discussed the possibility of manufacturing a 'smaller-sized pickup truck.' He stated, 'We have been discussing the creation of a smaller-sized pickup truck. I believe, as autonomous taxi services become more widely adopted in the future, we will consider these options, and we think that such autonomous taxi services will be useful not only for passenger transport but also for cargo.' It remains unclear whether Moravy is referring to a smaller version of the Cybertruck or a compact truck specifically designed for cargo transport. However, one thing is clear from the executive's remarks: Tesla's current top priority is 'autonomous taxis.' Media outlet Electrek, focused on electric vehicles, argues that Tesla's obsession with autonomy is indeed hindering the company. Tesla approaches everything from an autonomous driving perspective, and even when discussing the development of a smaller pickup, they mention 'as autonomous taxi services become more widely adopted in the future.' As a result, over the past five years, Tesla has launched only the Cybertruck as a new model. The company was expected to introduce five new model projects during this period, including two more affordable models, a true full-size three-row SUV, the next-generation Roadster, and a compact van, but instead, it has concentrated all its efforts on autonomous driving without yielding results. Electrek also notes that Tesla now finds itself losing its leading position in the electric vehicle sector while betting everything on a false lead in autonomous driving, a technology that may not provide real value in the next five years, as competitors like Waymo and Baidu are rapidly catching up.