Tesla has announced plans to have what it calls a “delivery event” for its Model S Plaid at its Fremont, California, factory on June 3. It has also hinted that it could have the highly anticipated Cybertruck ready for delivery by the end of the year.
Tesla had paused delivery of the Model S and Model X in Q1 2021, ostensibly for a revamp of the Gigafactory that manufactures them. Despite a record-setting quarterly number of deliveries in Q1, it delivered only 2,020 Model S and Model X vehicles last quarter. It has indicated that it is now ready to get production of these two models back on track.
In a tweet announcing the delivery event, Elon Musk that the Model S Plaid can go from 0 to 60 in under two seconds. This model can be equipped with an optional steering yoke of the sort that racecar drivers normally use instead of the steering wheel used by average vehicle owners. Critics say that the steering yoke may come with a learning curve because most drivers reposition their hands while steering.
Musk indicated in the most recent earnings call that the Model S Plaid was already in production and admitted in an interview with Joe Rogan that some may find the acceleration to be “uncomfortably fast” due to the new, more powerful powertrain. Customers have said that Tesla is lucky that its loyalists are so patient, considering the frequent delays in the expected delivery of promised new models.
Tesla has also dropped hints that the Cybertruck could be released by the end of 2021, likely in an attempt to put pressure on Ford’s plans for an electric version of the F-150 pickup truck. The hints came in text messages to consumers who have already reserved a Cybertruck, thanking them for their patience. Although Tesla has not issued an official statement to the press and likely won’t because it lacks a PR department, this matches up with Elon Musk’s initial timeline for the Cybertruck when he unveiled it in late 2019.
Assembly of the Cybertruck is likely to take place at the Gigafactory in Austin, Texas, when the factory comes online. This Gigafactory will also produce the Model Y. Tesla has dropped hints that it could also produce the Semi, which might please corporations like Walmart Canada that have reserved Semis as part of their effort to make their operations more environmentally friendly. The Gigafactory in Austin is expected to employ 10,000 people.
Tesla is facing increasing competition not only from Ford’s plans for an electric pickup truck, but also Model 3 Plaid alternatives like the Porsche Taycan and Audi E-tron. Investors may lose patience if Tesla and Elon Musk cannot keep pace with competitors, which could explain Elon Musk’s plan for another dramatic event that he calls a “delivery event.” The company has not yet issued an update on progress on the Plaid version of the Model X SUV or when the Roadster will be released.
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