Stainless Steel Hinders Tesla's Cybertruck Launch

author: FutureCar Staff    

Tesla's highly anticipated Cybertruck, initially announced by CEO Elon Musk in 2019, has faced numerous delays primarily due to the decision to encase the electric pickup in ultra-hard stainless steel. The dent-resistant steel, which is used for the outer shell of the Cybertruck, has presented challenges for Tesla in terms of proper molding. According to sources familiar with the process, the metal comes in coils resembling "giant rolls of toilet paper" and has proven difficult to flatten.

The combination of metal molding difficulties, supply chain issues, and design flaws has made it challenging for Tesla to bring the Cybertruck to fruition. Despite its introduction by Musk in 2019, Tesla only recently produced its first-ever model in July and has consistently missed its stated deadlines.

With just three days remaining before Musk's latest self-imposed deadline to start shipping out Cybertrucks, Tesla has begun displaying them in showrooms. Musk recently admitted to investors that the automaker will face "enormous challenges" in increasing production output and achieving profitability with the pickups, acknowledging the difficulties associated with new technology.

Unlike other automakers who prioritize lightweight vehicles and utilize aluminum, Musk insisted on using less malleable and heavier stainless steel for the Cybertruck. While stainless steel eliminates the need for a paint job, Tesla plans to put the trucks through a surface finishing process to ensure uniformity. Tesla executives believe that the metal will enhance the durability, strength, and resistance to corrosion of the pickups. Musk even claimed that the Cybertruck is bulletproof, citing tests where it withstood a submachine gun's "entire drum magazine" and an arrow fired by Joe Rogan.

To develop a custom alloy that meets Tesla's specific requirements for strength and corrosion resistance, the company partnered with Aperam, a Luxembourg-based stainless steel maker. Tesla has requested an exclusion from tariffs on steel imports for Aperam, stating that the company supplies them with stainless steel coil.

The hardness of the material prevents the use of traditional stamping presses for producing body panels, forcing Tesla to rely on laser cutters to shape the metal. Tesla also needs to be cautious during the development process, as certain chemical and processing techniques could affect the steel's appearance.

While the Cybertruck is expected to be more resistant to minor damages, repairing dents or scrapes could prove to be more challenging. Chris Nicholson, an expert in restoring DeLorean Motor cars, explained that one would have to "beat the absolute hell out of it" to cause significant damage. Interestingly, DeLorean released its last-ever car with an unpainted stainless-steel exterior about 40 years ago.

FutureCar Staff