The behemoth that is the Tesla Cybertruck has arrived in Malaysia and will be in the country right into May 2024 for locals to get a closer look and bang its body to get a sense of how tough it is.
Heck, you can even climb atop the plastic cover over the cargo bed and walk around it with a friend to get that rare Instagram shot.
The electric pick-up truck has been on an Asian tour that started in China and now it is in Malaysia for a few weeks for people to get to know it better.
The common questions asked of Tesla executive Ahmad Hadri Haris will be put to rest here. No, the Cybertruck is not for sale. And neither does the Tesla representative for Malaysia and Singapore know when and if it would ever be launched in this country.
For now, the Cybertruck is only sold in the United States. And production has just begun there with deliveries starting up only late last year. News reports have indicated there have been plenty of orders to keep Tesla busy. It’s also still working on scaling up production of the new 4680 batteries that the truck runs on. So that will take some time to iron out.
Words like “cool”, “futuristic” and “weird” are often bandied around in reference to the Cybertruck, whose sharp angular design is strange and polarising to many.
But there’s no denying that there’s nothing quite like it on the road – anywhere in the world. It embodies Tesla’s latest know-how in car manufacturing and technologies and you could say it’s the company’s halo car. While it’s selling in the States, Tesla is deploying it as a marketing tool to draw people into its showrooms in countries where its other cars are already on sale.
Basically, while no one outside the States can get the Cybertruck yet, Tesla is telling everyone there’s “a piece of Cybertruck” in every Model Y or 3 that’s available now. That’s the reason why the Cybertruck has been going on a tour of selected markets outside the US. It’s also a point of convergence to open up dialogue with local government officials and (try) to convince them why the Cybertruck should be sold later on.
Safety experts have pointed out that the Cybertruck can pose a danger to pedestrians, cyclists and other vehicles. One can see where they are coming from since the Cybertruck is big, heavy and powerful and can demolish everything in its path in the event of an accident (except maybe a big-ass prime mover).
Even the front where the grille would be in a regular car is made of cold hard steel and there are sharp edges everywhere from the doors to the bonnet.
The Cybertruck, first unveiled in 2019, is only produced in Tesla’s Austin plant and there’s no capacity to make right-hand drive versions at present.
The Malaysian media were the first to check out the Cybertruck in Cyberjaya (rhymes, yes?) today. It took centrestage in one of Tesla’s halls, flanked by a Model Y and Model 3. Compared with these two cars, the Cybertruck is massive.
Its angular body is made of big slabs of stainless steel. The truck bed offers plenty of space to store items and has a V2L function that allows electrical tools or appliances to plug in to feed on the battery power. At the press of a switch, a plastic tonneau cover rolls out to cover the bed, at which point the driver’s rear view vision is blocked. The cover is tough enough for a full-size adult to stand on.
Door handles are absent and one opens doors with buttons on the pillars. Inside, the dash is clean and has an huge infotainment touchscreen (18.5-inch) and double trays for wireless phone charging – pretty much what you see in the Model Y/3. Gear changes are executed with buttons overhead.
The truck’s size allows Tesla to carve out a generous space for five adults to sit in, And there’s a 9.4-inch centre screen for rear passengers. Comfort is assured with air suspension and parking in tight spaces is made easier with the ability to steer the rear wheels as well.
Tesla wanted to cash in on the US pickup-truck segment as it is the most profitable of the auto market. That’s why the Cybertruck was conceived. While big trucks sell well in America, it’s not the case in the rest of the world which prefer light commercial trucks with lower maintenance costs.
The Cybertruck brought into Malaysia is the AWD version (two electric motors, 600hp/ 10,080Nm, 0-100kph in 4.3s, top speed at 180kph, range of 547km).
Tesla also has a top variant called the Cyberbeast with three motors and by 2025 will offer an entry-level version with a rear motor. Specification details are available at the Tesla site.
Price for the AWD Cybertruck is US$80,000 (RM380,000) in the United States, while the Cyberbeast goes for US$100,000 (RM475,000). The single motor RWD version is estimated at US$61,000 (RM290,000) .
The Cybertruck is the first production model that uses a 48V low voltage system, which results in reduced harness weight and leads to improved energy efficiency. It’s also the first Tesla with an 800V battery system, which on paper, should allow it to charge much faster provided the charger can deliver such a high voltage.
Tesla Malaysia will be announcing dates for the Cybertruck public showing, so follow up on its website or social media to stay informed.
