Tesla faces intense scrutiny following reports the Cybertruck is ending production, described as a "shocking failure." The electric pickup has fallen drastically short of its 250,000 annual target, managing only 70,000 sales over three years despite $2 billion in R&D spending. This resulted in a net project loss of approximately $1.9 billion, with only $100 million in gross profits. Critics point to the vehicle's high cost and reduced range compared to promises.
The article traces Tesla's product history, noting that since JB Straubel departed as CTO in July 2019, the company has struggled to replicate past successes. Prior to his departure, Straubel collaborated with Elon Musk on electric aviation and car development. Following the exits of Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning, Straubel and Musk steered Tesla into an automotive superpower.
However, the post-Straubel era is characterized by a perceived lack of significant new product launches or improvements, with the Model Y being the last major release closely tied to the pre-departure era.
Source: Hacker News · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing