Tesla Cybertruck delayed

The introduction of the all-new Tesla Cybertruck looks set to be pushed back until at least 2022 in North America – and considerably further afield for the Australian market – due to global parts shortages that have crippled the car industry.

Many car-makers have been affected by a semi-conductor shortage this year, which has led to long wait times and, in some cases, fewer available models, revised specifications and even higher prices.

Although Tesla has skirted around some of the setbacks with continued discounting and strong deliveries of its popular Tesla Model 3 produced in China, it seems the US-built Tesla Cybertruck will fall victim to the shortages.

“We believe we remain on track to build our first Model Y vehicles in Berlin and Austin in 2021,” Tesla said in its latest investor report this week.

“The pace of the respective production will be influenced by the successful introduction of many new product and manufacturing technologies, ongoing supply chain related challenges, and regional [permits].

“To better focus on these factories, and due to the limited availability of battery cells and global supply chain challenges, we have shifted the launch of the Semi truck program to 2022.

“We are also making progress on the industrialisation of Cybertruck, which is currently planned for Austin production subsequent to Model Y.”

Tesla has been taking deposits for the Cybertruck from Australian buyers for more than a year – and is still doing so – but the battery-electric pick-up is yet to go through the rigorous local homologation process.

The rigidity and sharpness of the Cybertruck’s angular design will reportedly also be softened to help meet pedestrian impact legislation.

The original prototype Cybertruck promised to raise the bar for full-size pure-electric pick-up trucks for both range and performance.

Even the single-motor, rear-wheel drive version – which is not expected to enter production until late in 2022, according to Tesla’s website – is claimed to hit 60mph (97km/h) in 6.5 seconds and offer a base range of more than 402km.

The mid-range dual-motor all-wheel drive Cybertruck, meanwhile, claims 0-60mph acceleration of just 4.5sec and a range of 480km.

The flagship triple-motor AWD model is said to hit 60mph in just 2.9sec and achieve a 209km/h top speed. Its range is claimed to be 800km – almost 160km more than the longest-range Tesla Model S sedan.

All Tesla Cybertruck models will have a payload of 1588kg and the base model is rated to tow 3402kg.

Tesla is certainly not alone with the latest parts shortage, which is set to drag into 2022.

Speaking at an industry event in Detroit this month, Daimler CEO and head of Mercedes-Benz, Ola Källenius, and his opposite number at Stellantis, Carlos Tavares, separately forecasted the chip shortage to remain an ongoing issue into 2022.