Model X and Y are crossover versions of car platforms. Do you think Tesla will make a true SUV version of the truck platform from Day One (the unveiling in November)?
All Teslas are skateboard platform based. They are more close to the ladder platform used by trucks. Their batteries act as the chassis.
If Elon is interested in having another high margin profit maker that's easier to manufacture than the X he will. And maybe a van too. The question is what platform is the Pick Up truck using? Is it a version of the Model 3's platfrom or new bespoke platform that may be shared with a future Roadster,S and X?
The X is based on the S which is a 7 year old platform. Pretty sure Tesla has learned a thing or too on how to improve a platform over 7 years. Such as easier and efficient production.
I think it would be a misstep to build a 'truck' on a car skateboard, unless the target market is city delivery & independent city tradesmen. There is definitely a use case for this, but selling that into the F-150 crowd would not work. A small truck will get laughed out of any Red or Purple state and make it difficult to re-earn any chops within the 'real' truck community (F-150). If the truck is on a larger platform (cross fingers), I'm not sure what the demand for a large form factor SUV will be in 3 years though? Maybe 250k units?
Doubt Tesla is going to build a Body on Frame vehicle, so what choice do they have outside a car Skateboard. Sure it can be bulked up, just Honda built the Ridgeline on the Pilot platform.
The Semi is definitely going to be body on frame . Maybe the truck will be the Semi with a bed? Like the Sport Chassis: I agree that it will almost certainly be based on a car platform and not really compete with the F150.
i'm sure there'll be a demand for it but i just can't imagine what it'll look like especially if it looks like the rendering if extended to the back it'll be like the old toyota minivan but bigger and more aerodynamic in the front, lol
That would be a great design as it would allow you to have a crew cab, a decent size bed and a small enough footprint to fit in parking spaces and garages. However there's a reason there aren't any passenger vehicles sold in the US with the driver that far forward, it makes it impossible to pass crash tests.
All Teslas are already essentially body-on-frame. The skateboard has large frame rails and can roll totally separated from the body. The wheelbase on the S/X is 116'', which is shorter than the shortest Tacoma wheelbase. Besides the size being small, the same platform is probably not good for the application. The truck will be much heavier and is supposed to have the adaptive suspension, so that would likely require totally different components. I think they will have an SUV version, as it is such low hanging fruit and such a high margin option. I think that will be the "surprise," something with a form-factor close to a Ford Excursion or Chevy Suburban. Will it have a solid rear axle? A double-stack battery? 80amp AC charging? 3 motors? A simulated locking differential? Soooo excited to see it all.
I too see skateboard as frame with batteries. As Evbwcaer said, all teslas are more related to trucks than car.
Maybe the truck will be both an SUV and a pickup truck a la GMC Envoy XUV... The retractable roof would probably help a lot with aero.
I am sure the truck will be capable of towing a fifth wheel trailer which means it will need open sides.
I will be surprised if the truck uses the skateboard from either the S/X or 3/Y series. The model S/X is already due for an update it would be silly to base a new vehicle on it. I think both platforms are too small if they are going to make an actual truck. I would guess they are going to make an F150 size truck I'm hoping for larger though. I would like to see a 450/550 size truck but doubt it will happen soon. I can see them having multiple sizes eventually. I will be surprised if they don't come out with an SUV based on the truck platform but I doubt it will be from the start. They want to minimize the different configurations at the start. I will also guess it will be a fairly cab forward design. Still have some crumple zone but not as much of a hood like a traditional car/truck.
The cybertruck may introduce a new skateboard that can be used by the refreshed Model S/X or Roadster. Probably the same batteries as the Model 3, but with more area for the batteries. The 600 miles range of the Roadster would provide about 300 to a large truck. The Roadster will have two motors in back and that would provide vectoring and amazing performance for the truck. Even better would be two motors up front like the Rivian competition offers. At that point, put 4 motors in the Roadster too.
I think they'll make an SUV based on the cybertruck platform eventually but probably will have their hands full with the pickup version.
I think they will show 3 or more versions like Rivian. Tesla is about to loose that segment to them if they don't have something quick. Showing the variants (including SUV) will undermine Rivian even if Tesla only starts with one initially. Those couple more prototypes are worth it just to crush competitor dreams. Ford can expect that rivalry too.