The upcoming Tesla pickup truck has become the most intriguing thing in the electric car segment right now. Many are anticipating its debut, which according to Elon Musk, is set for November. The CEO has already hinted at a futuristic design, prompting the question: will it be as practical as it will be stylish?
Musk last year sought suggestions for features to add to the truck and we like to think he has taken some of them, considering how enthusiastic he was engaging with fans on Twitter. He mentioned that the electric truck will have an option for 400 to 500 miles of range, but was open to the possibility of it being higher. It will be a massive vehicle for sure, as the truck will be a 6-seater.
We're pretty used to seeing the CEO all giddy about a project, but this electric truck in particular, which he has previously described as "really futuristic-like cyberpunk Blade Runner' design," seems more of a Musk project than Tesla's.
Pickup trucks serve a practical purpose, including carrying and towing, benefitting a lot of contractors, ranchers, and farmers. Integrating some futuristic, sci-fi features is undoubtedly a cool and exciting idea, but don't expect that the primary target audience will always appreciate the impractical additions.
Musk appears to be well aware of this and acknowledged in one interview that his "cyberpunk" electric truck won't be everybody's cup of tea. He even said that Tesla is open to design a more conventional pickup truck if the uptake isn't as expected.
"It's something I've been wanting to make for a long time," the CEO said. "If there's only a small number of people that like that truck, I guess we'll make a more conventional truck in the future."
Introducing a new design to the market is one time-consuming and difficult task for automakers. Though Tesla has always been ambitious with its plans, launching a futuristic truck with no clear audience presents a new challenge for the company. Add to that the growing skepticism Musk regarding's timelines.
Musk's initial plan was a summer 2019 launch, which was eventually delayed with the CEO suggesting that the truck would come out in "maybe two to three months." Now, Tesla seems bent on pushing the reveal in November.
Trucks and SUVs continue to become popular in the American auto market. Fiat, Ford, and General Motors - the Detroit Big 3 - are all racing to increase their market share in this space. While Tesla shows a lot of promise to become a future market leader, it's tough to beat these veterans. Until the company releases its newest machine, dominating the electric pickup truck market remains a huge question.
