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▲ sheepscreek 5 days ago

I love the fantastic designs and form factors popping up in mini-EV truck/SUV space. My worry is for the business feasibility for these. Why isn’t Tesla making these? They have the supply chain and expertise to easily pull it off and they’d be such a big hit. People switching to them for light cargo would be a REAL contribution in cutting use of carbon.

I can think of one possibility. At Tesla’s scale, production becomes feasible only if they can produce X million units. This is because setting up production tooling, supply chain channels, and other associated costs is prohibitively expensive. Additionally, the demand for these vehicles will be relatively low until influential YouTubers in the construction, farming, and rural sectors become advocates and start promoting them.

In my opinion, electric vehicles (EVs) are perfectly suited for this task. They are ideal for transporting heavy items between nearby destinations, such as moving Home Depot supplies to a construction site or Costco products to a restaurant or store. A range of even 200 miles is practical for this use-case and keeps the cost low (MT1 is a beast by my standard).

For clarification, I am all for more competition. But I am also selfish and I really want this segment to become wildly successful . In any case, I really and truly hope they can make the business case work and be profitable/sustainable.

▲benzible 5 days ago | parent | next [-]

I don't think Tesla's judgment should be the litmus test. They have capacity to produce 250K Cybertrucks / year, currently on pace to sell < 20K and it's only going down from here.

▲margalabargala 5 days ago | parent | next [-]

To be fair, the main reason for this is that the CEO of Tesla looked at "people who buy electric vehicles", and spent the last four years turning himself into a caricature of a villain to those people.

At the best maybe it was some sort of misguided attempt to encourage the American right to buy EVs?

If so it royally backfired and just decimated his own customer base right at the time real competition was entering the market. The Equinox EV roundly beats the Model Y head to head on range, price, AWD, etc. The Ioniq 5 is more expensive but is lovely.

▲rconti 4 days ago | parent | next [-]

The CT sales are <10% of their capacity, per your wording. Do you think Model Y sales are down 90%?

No doubt Elon is destroying the profitability of his company by being a public asshole, but the Cybertruck is a fundamentally flawed vehicle (almost) nobody asked for, which is why it's a flop. By comparison, (refreshed) 3 and Y sales are not off by nearly as much, and some of that is just because they're just refreshes of existing vehicles people have been buying for many years, and there's a lot more competition in the EV market, and overall EV sales are slowing.

▲margalabargala 4 days ago | parent [-]

Not really sure what you're referring to by "per your wording", but Tesla sales were down YoY both Q1 and Q2 of 2025.

Q1 was handwaved away back in April as "oh people are waiting for the new models" but then Q2 was down as well.

▲rconti 3 days ago | parent [-]

Sorry, must have been another thread, not your wording.

Someone pointed out CT production is <10% of their planned capacity. So the CT is underperforming by 90%, but I'm sure 3/Y sales are _not_ down by 90%. Meaning the CT is an outsize failure, even if you take into account Elon tanking Tesla sales in general, and overall slowing or at least plateauing EV sales.

▲eric_cc 4 days ago | parent | prev | next [-]

> Equinox EV roundly beats the Model Y head to head

The Y is the best vehicle I’ve ever owned. To me, it took over what the Prius used to be - the best overall vehicle for most people.

You don’t even mention FSD here, I assume strategically. That, to me, is the most important feature. Does Equinox or Ioniq even have FSD?

▲dexterdog 4 days ago | parent | next [-]

The Y does not have FSD either.

▲margalabargala 4 days ago | parent | next [-]

I can't reply to the other person because their comment got dead'd, but the Y and the Equinox have similar levels of self-driving available anyway. GM's Super Cruise is comparable to what Tesla calls FSD.

I don't think the Ioniq has anything comparable.

▲eric_cc 4 days ago | parent | prev [-]

My car drives me around town unassisted. Whatever you want to call that - does the equinox or ioniq do that?

▲margalabargala 4 days ago | parent | prev [-]

The Y and the Equinox have similar levels of self-driving available. GM's Super Cruise is comparable to what Tesla calls FSD.

I don't think the Ioniq has anything comparable.

▲beAbU 4 days ago | parent | prev [-]

You are responding to a message about the cybertruck specifically, so I assume you are implying musk's behaviour is to blame for the poor sales of the CT?

The cybertruck fell flat long before Musk's true identity was revealed (maga/nazi affiliations).

Even if tesla was headed up by the most beloved CEO ever, I reckon the CT would still have sold poorly. It's just objectively a very bad, poorly designed and even worse built vehicle. And surprisingly, I feel like it's design aged very very quickly. It does not look next-gen or futuristic to me at all anymore.

▲margalabargala 4 days ago | parent | next [-]

There's a lot of reasons the cybertruck is a failure, but I think a lot of it does come down to Musk; not just the cancelled orders because of his politics, but because purportedly he inserted himself into the engineering and development at a far stronger level for this vehicle than the other Tesla vehicles, and a lot of the issues stem from fulfilling his design demands.

At the time the CT was announced there were no other EV pickups remotely close to buyable. If he had stepped back, and let the people who designed the X, Y, and 3 do their thing, it would have been released in 2020, and even with its unique shape would have sold great, and probably would not have developed the reputation for poor quality that the current one has.

▲eric_cc 4 days ago | parent | prev [-]

> Elon Musk … nazi affiliations

Do you have a source for this?

▲mavamaarten 4 days ago | parent [-]

[flagged]

▲margalabargala 4 days ago | parent | next [-]

Like the other commenter said, doing something that looks like a nazi salute doesn't make you a nazi, and supporting far right parties does not make you a nazi.

Both those things do however make other people think you may be a nazi, which is all that really matters here.

Whether Elon Musk is a nazi is irrelevant, what matter is that people think he is.

▲Tallain 4 days ago | parent [-]

He may look like a duck, and he may quack like a duck, but don't let that fool you...

▲eric_cc 4 days ago | parent | prev [-]

So no, you don’t have a source.

Supporting parties on the right does not make you a nazi.

Raising your hand does not make you a Nazi.

▲margalabargala 4 days ago | parent [-]

> Supporting parties on the right does not make you a nazi.

> Raising your hand does not make you a Nazi.

Fine, sure. Certainly there's a philosophical conversation to be had about what it means for one to be made a nazi by one's actions alone, in 2025.

But that doesn't matter. All that's needed for Elon Musk's behavior to cause problems is for him to do things that make other people think he is a nazi, which is a much lower bar, and one that is met by supporting far right parties and making gestures indistinguishable from nazi salutes.

▲jstummbillig 5 days ago | parent | prev [-]

I kind of think it's cool that reality is configured such that Cybertruck exists, but only in a very meta way. Lazy-think me: It feels dumb and is probably just bad focus from a company focus standpoint.

▲delabay 5 days ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Sadly, trucks like these are like the automotive "small smartphone". At first it appears there is a large vocal market, especially if you read the comment section. Alas, nobody will buy it, just like nobody actually buys small smartphones.

▲SoftTalker 4 days ago | parent | next [-]

A truck needs to have an 8 foot bed so you can haul plywood and lumber. I see this one does allow it by a “mid gate” and folding the rear seats but that’s still a bit cumbersome. And I prefer to have a metal wall between me and the 2x4s in case of an accident.

▲unethical_ban 5 days ago | parent | prev | next [-]

40k with 300hp and 350 mile range? This sounds pretty awesome imo.

▲SoftTalker 4 days ago | parent | next [-]

Insane price. We need something closer to a $15k S10 or Ranger compact pickup. Simple and utilitarian.

▲laweijfmvo 4 days ago | parent [-]

agree, but how much would an S10 go for today if they had just kept making them? probably $25k+.

▲Schiendelman 5 days ago | parent | prev [-]

40k will not get you a 350 mile range. There is no way they get to market at that price for that capability.

▲CarVac 5 days ago | parent [-]

40k gets 240 mile range.

▲dexterdog 4 days ago | parent [-]

The pricepoints are still vaporware.

▲CarVac 4 days ago | parent [-]

Agreed, we'll have to see if they're even remotely close to their claims.

▲conception 5 days ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Kei trucks and the maverick seem to disagree.

▲vachina 4 days ago | parent | next [-]

These cars are not mainstream and are typically used to circumvent vehicle classification regulations.

▲Qwertious 4 days ago | parent [-]

"Used to circumvent" translation: the laws are stupidly restrictive so they're normally (pointlessly) illegal. And the reason they're not mainstream is because they're illegal.

▲beAbU 4 days ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Kei truck and the Maverick aren't even in the same universe of size comparison.

A kei truck will give a VW Golf a run for it's money size wise!

▲laweijfmvo 5 days ago | parent | prev [-]

the maverick is a few inches shorter than the ranger. it’s huge.

▲girvo 5 days ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Sadly true: and I’m one of those who walks their talk wrt. small phones. I don’t need a ute, though, so I drive a cupra born instead

▲tomrod 5 days ago | parent | prev [-]

Certainly not at $41k

▲beAbU 4 days ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Here in Ireland al lot of local "last mile" services (postman, deliveries, council services, repair crews etc) are switching to electric vans. It's such a no-brainer and a great application of evs.

I'm actually wondering why pickups are so popular elsewhere. A van makes so much more sense for a travelling tradie IMO - we need more electric vans!

▲gtirloni 4 days ago | parent | next [-]

Outside of farmers and heavy machinery workers, trucks are only a status/culture symbol these days. In my town, 1 out of 10 vehicles is a truck... a very clean and shiny truck that has never carried anything.

▲NoLinkToMe 2 days ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Partly driven by EU laws, most EU countries have or are introducing (ultra) low emission zones, barring non-electric now or soon from cities. Companies can see the writing on the wall and are making their 10-15 year vehicle investments accordingly.

▲ 4 days ago | parent | prev [-]
[deleted]
▲Jach 5 days ago | parent | prev | next [-]

> Additionally, the demand for these vehicles will be relatively low until influential YouTubers in the construction, farming, and rural sectors become advocates and start promoting them.

This is a surprising claim to me. Can you point to any other vehicles (even something from John Deere or a competitor) whose demand significantly rose in a way directly attributable to influential youtubers in those niches, and which influencers in particular you think would be particularly influential?

▲nine_k 5 days ago | parent [-]

A John Deere is not a fashion statement. A car, or a daily commute truck, very much is, for many. (Sneakers, jeans, or t-shirts could be completely pragmatic, brand-oblivious items, too.)

▲ghushn3 5 days ago | parent | next [-]

A John Deere is absolutely a fashion statement, lol. You gotta meet more farmers, because the fights I see break out over Case IH, John Deere, New Holland, and Cat are unreal.

▲HeyLaughingBoy 5 days ago | parent | prev [-]

Oh, you would be so surprised. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rv8agst9o_0

▲rsync 5 days ago | parent | prev | next [-]

"I love the fantastic designs and form factors popping up in mini-EV truck/SUV space ..."

Exterior designs.

The interior has no design - design and UI were given over to a touchscreen. Go look at the interior renderings to see for yourself ...

▲notatoad 5 days ago | parent | prev | next [-]

>My worry is for the business feasibility for these

hopefully the success of the ford maverick can allay some of this concern - i don't think anybody was really expecting it to be as successful as it has been, but it seems like there's actually pretty decent demand for a smaller truck.

▲timeon 5 days ago | parent | prev | next [-]

> Why isn’t Tesla making these?

Like with most cars they have made it is because Tesla has no taste.

▲MetaWhirledPeas 5 days ago | parent | prev | next [-]

> Why isn’t Tesla making these? They have the supply chain and expertise to easily pull it off and they’d be such a big hit. People switching to them for light cargo would be a REAL contribution in cutting use of carbon.

I get your point but I also think you are being dismissive of their ongoing contributions to cutting carbon use.

▲Maken 5 days ago | parent | prev | next [-]

But Tesla already did one of these. It's called Cybertruck.

▲Alive-in-2025 5 days ago | parent | next [-]

The CT is a truck and it is electric, but it has some limitations, one being the range is not that great. And it has some weaknesses.

▲ghushn3 5 days ago | parent [-]

It also looks like shit and carries huge social baggage. ;)

▲beAbU 4 days ago | parent | next [-]

And its fucking expensive

▲eric_cc 4 days ago | parent | prev [-]

> huge social baggage. ;)

Or a great social filter. Consider the type of people that would judge you over a cybertruck.

▲ghushn3 4 days ago | parent [-]

> Consider the type of people that would judge you over a cybertruck.

I think we call those "most people".

▲fruitworks 4 days ago | parent [-]

I don't think most people care unless you're in a super liberal area.

▲devilbunny 3 days ago | parent [-]

Not about the politics of owning one, but they're just ugly as hell no matter where you live. MAGA conservatives that care about aesthetics do exist (e.g., my mother-in-law).

▲ 5 days ago | parent | prev [-]
[deleted]
▲Dig1t 5 days ago | parent | prev [-]

They have to solve a real problem for people hauling cargo, they don’t really do that as they currently exist. They get significantly worse range when hauling than a normal gas or diesel truck, their only benefit is making feel better about their carbon footprint.

I was legit considering getting an F150 lighting for a little while but when I saw how much your range decreases when towing something it became obvious that it’s not really practical. It’s just objectively worse at hauling than a gas car.

Hopefully we see more battery tech breakthroughs that make electric trucks viable work vehicles.

▲dyauspitr 5 days ago | parent | next [-]

It is worse at hauling. I can get between 150 to 200 miles while towing my 4000 lb RV with my lightning. What’s nice though is I can get a full charge at my campsite for the night so I never really pay for transportation. Turns out 200 miles per day is good enough for cross country RVing.

For everyday driving, I pay about $8.50 for a “full tank” of charge that gets me around 300 miles. That’s about $100 worth of gas in an equivalent gas truck.

That’s being said I think the ideal truck would have about 2x-3x the current battery capacity of the extended range lightning.

▲Alive-in-2025 5 days ago | parent [-]

The new huge GM EV & SUV trucks do have way more battery - and weight. The GM Silverado EV Work Truck is EPA 492 miles, tested at 530 by edmonds. So take the common rule of thumb, divide range by half or maybe a little more and you get about 250 miles of towing range. https://news.gm.com/home.detail.html/Pages/topic/us/en/2025/....

In a couple of recent youtube videos, "Aging Wheels" thoroughly tested a variety of trailers towed behind a variety of vehicles and then also added weight to the trailer to see the efficiency impact of towing a trailer with a lot more weight. They found a 4.3% efficiency drop by adding weight to max out the towing, compared to towing without the extra weight. Weight isn't what matters on towing impact, it's the wind resistance of the trailer that matters much more.

They did a long series of comparison drives (in the about 30 mins video) with different trailers and then loaded them with extra weight to see the impact. It was smaller than you expect. The video with all the tests is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmKf8smvGsA.

I heard about this on the batteries included podcast where they interview the author of the video above, and kind of give high level summary with some details, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGJv-xAqcTI.

▲dyauspitr 4 days ago | parent [-]

That first video was very well done, answers so many questions all at once. I’m going to put effort into making my setup much more aerodynamic. That’s a potential 30-50 miles more per charge there!

▲masklinn 5 days ago | parent | prev | next [-]

It’s pretty complicated. The issue with hauling is that it craters your aerodynamics and explodes your rolling resistance, so you need massive battery capacity. Or to slow down, but most people don’t want to do that.

Aging wheels has a recent video on the subject: https://youtu.be/UmKf8smvGsA

▲disentanglement 5 days ago | parent | prev [-]

They are cheaper to run almost everywhere (depending on the cost of electricity versus gas of course). No breakthrough in battery technology needed for that.

▲bluGill 4 days ago | parent [-]

They don't run everywhere though. They run until the fuel runs out. At least with liquid fuels that just needs a short stop to refuel, and stations are everywhere. a recharge takes longer and places to do it are not as common. If you are towing there are places you can't get.