Latest news with #Cybertruck
Time of India
8 hours ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
Tesla co-founder Martin Eberhard slams Elon Musk: ‘Cybertruck looks like a dumpster, world needed affordable EVs'
In a rare and candid interview, Tesla co-founder Martin Eberhard has openly criticised Elon Musk 's leadership and recent strategic choices at Tesla. Speaking with YouTuber Kim Java, Eberhard did not hold back, calling the Cybertruck a 'dumpster' and slamming the cancellation of Tesla's affordable $25,000 EV as a disservice to global needs. Eberhard also expressed deep skepticism about Tesla's self-driving ambitions and raised concerns about safety and regulatory oversight. His remarks reveal a simmering feud with Musk and spotlight long-standing disagreements about Tesla's direction, values, and the future of electric mobility. Elon Musk's Cybertruck and EV priorities draw sharp criticism Eberhard voiced strong disappointment in Tesla's decision to scrap plans for an affordable electric vehicle in favor of pushing the Cybertruck. 'I am actually disappointed that Tesla canceled its low-end car program because that's what the world needs—not a truck that looks like a dumpster,' he said. The Cybertruck, with its polarizing design and high price point, represents a stark shift from the early Tesla vision of accelerating global EV adoption through affordability and accessibility. Beyond aesthetics and affordability, Eberhard took aim at Tesla's push for autonomous vehicles. He expressed doubt about the company's ambitious Robotaxi program and broader self-driving goals, saying, 'I'm more skeptical of that than most people are.' He pointed to safety concerns and a worrying tolerance for system failures that have, in some cases, resulted in fatalities. His comments highlight growing scrutiny over the regulatory leniency and marketing of Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Top 20 Blue Flag beaches around the World Click Here Undo A long-standing rift with Elon Musk Eberhard's criticisms reflect more than just technical disagreements—they also expose a deeply personal rift with Musk that has spanned nearly two decades. Though Eberhard left Tesla in 2007 and settled a lawsuit with Musk in 2009, tensions remain. He remarked, 'Somebody pointed out that I'm still occupying real estate in his head, which is kind of funny.' Eberhard suggested Musk continues to publicly attack him, citing occasional jabs during high-profile events like TED Talks or on social media. Eberhard is still a shareholder, but not silent Despite the friction, Eberhard remains a Tesla shareholder and has previously expressed hope for the company's success. In his 2019 comments, he affirmed his support for Tesla's mission even as he distanced himself from Musk's management. His latest interview, however, shows a clear shift toward vocal opposition to the company's evolving product strategy and ethical direction. Tesla's current challenges amplify criticism Eberhard's remarks come at a difficult time for Tesla. The company has faced declining sales in major markets like California, backlash over pricing strategies, and billions in losses from cryptocurrency ventures. Musk himself lost $12 billion in a single day due to market volatility. Eberhard's critique adds to a growing chorus questioning whether Tesla is straying too far from its founding principles of innovation, safety, and sustainability. AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Gizmodo
18 hours ago
- Automotive
- Gizmodo
Original Tesla Founder Is Sad That Musk Made a ‘Truck That Looks Like a Dumpster'
Unbeknownst to much of the public, Elon Musk did not actually start Tesla. Indeed, Musk was actually the company's 4th CEO when he initially joined the company way back in 2008. While Musk can be credited with substantially transforming the firm and its offerings, its original co-founders, Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning, launched Tesla in 2003. Musk and those original executives have had their tussles over the years. In fact, tensions between Musk and Eberhard led to a 2009 lawsuit and settlement. That settlement found that Musk could call himself a co-founder of the company, alongside Eberhard, Tarpenning, JB Straubel, and Ian Wright. As first spotted by Electrek, during a recent interview with EV YouTuber Kim Java, Eberhard expressed discontent with the direction of the company and referred to Musk's newest vehicular creation in a less-than-flattering fashion. 'I am actually disappointed that Tesla canceled its low-end car program because that's what the world needs—not a truck that looks like a dumpster,' Eberhard said. In addition to insulting Musk's floundering Cybertruck, Eberhard seems to have been referring to Tesla's previously espoused goal of launching a more affordable line of cars. Most of the new vehicles from the company cost in the $40k range, although in the past, both Musk and Tesla announced a 'planned $25,000 EV would be an all-new model, designed and built from scratch on a new platform,' Reuters previously reported. Musk had characterized the program 'as a testbed for groundbreaking manufacturing innovations that would lower the cost of electric vehicles,' the outlet writes. However, last summer, Reuters reported that Musk had 'killed' the $25,000 EV. Musk later denied the report and accused the outlet of 'lying.' Reuters subsequently reported that Musk 'had, in fact, canceled the low-cost vehicle, which many investors called the Model 2, and pivoted Tesla to focus on self-driving robotaxis.' Musk's claims that Reuters was lying reportedly confused 'some senior managers [at the company],' spurring them to ask him whether 'he'd changed his mind. Musk rejected their concerns and said the project was still dead,' Reuters said. However, despite this past drama, Tesla still claims to be moving ahead with an affordable car program. During the company's earnings call about a week ago, Tesla appeared to provide an update on this program. A shareholder deck that was circulated seemed to imply that this program will see progress later this year. Teslerati notes that the deck said: 'We continue to expand our vehicle offering, including first builds of a more affordable model in June, with volume production planned for the second half of 2025.' The outlet notes that the 'pricing of the affordable models still remains a mystery.' Not all of Eberhard's recent comments about Musk were negative. He also complimented the tech billionaire for having 'transformed Tesla into one of the most valuable companies in the world.' He added: 'That's good. I'm glad to see my baby surviving.' He also said he felt SpaceX (Musk's rocket company) was a 'remarkably good company' while noting that he felt Musk doesn't 'do an adequate job of giving credit to the people who made that possible.' He credited Gwynne Shotwell, SpaceX's president, with keeping 'the rockets flying.' Gizmodo reached out to Tesla and Musk for comment. Eberhard is, of course, not the first person to insult Musk's bulky contraption. Since its launch, the Cybertruck has been referred to by a variety of colorful monikers, including—just to pick a few off the internet—'truly a piece of shit,' 'the stupidest vehicle ever designed' and 'literally the worst thing I've ever seen,' among many others. Indeed, hatred for the truck and its owners has reached such great heights that owners recently launched a Facebook support group designed to help them cope with all of the world's hostilities.
Top Gear
a day ago
- Automotive
- Top Gear
Help your Cybertruck, erm, 'stand out' with Unplugged's new 24in wheels
Help your Cybertruck, erm, 'stand out' with Unplugged's new 24in wheels Tesla Truck a little too plain for you? How about sticking some massive gold forged wheels on it? Skip 11 photos in the image carousel and continue reading Turn on Javascript to see all the available pictures. 1 / 11 Gold wheels on a Subaru Impreza? Yep. Massive, 24in forged gold wheels on the Tesla Cybertruck? Erm, we'll let you make your own minds up on that one. These are the new $7,145 CYBRSPOKE wheels from California-based Tesla tuner Unplugged Performance, and they're designed for those who think the standard Cybertruck is a little shy and retiring. Advertisement - Page continues below 'We engineered CYBRSPOKE to carry a sporting presence while maximising strength and staying loyal to the Cybertruck's brutalist form,' said Ben Schaffer, boss of Unplugged. Despite being a monster 24in wheel, we're told they weigh around the same as the standard Tesla 20in wheel when that design is fitted with aero covers. They're also available in a satin black or titanium finish if you'd like to be a little more… discreet. Advertisement - Page continues below Looking for more from the USA? READ THE LATEST USA NEWS Top Gear Newsletter Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Look out for your regular round-up of news, reviews and offers in your inbox. Get all the latest news, reviews and exclusives, direct to your inbox. Success Your Email*
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Tesla has discussed building a smaller version of the Cybertruck, its engineering VP says
Tesla's Cybertruck has been a major sales disappointment since it launched in 2023. The "apocalypse-proof" truck is so big and heavy that it is very difficult to sell outside the US. Now, Tesla's engineering VP has said that the EV giant is considering building a smaller pickup truck. Elon Musk's "apocalypse-proof" Cybertruck has been a major disappointment, but it could be about to get a smaller sibling. Lars Moravy, Tesla's engineering VP, said in an interview on Saturday that the EV giant is considering making a smaller pickup truck, as sales of the beefy science-fiction-inspired Cybertruck continue to struggle. "We always talked about making a smaller pickup," said Moravy, in response to a question about whether Tesla needed a mini version of the Cybertruck for international markets. "I think in the future, as more and more of the robotaxi comes into the world, we look at those options and we think about, OK, that kind of service is useful not just for people, but also for goods," Moravy, who was speaking at an event hosted by Tesla owners and investors in California, added. "We've definitely been churning in the design studio about what we might do to serve that need for sure." Tesla did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Moravy's interview, which was sent outside regular US working hours. The Cybertruck was launched with a huge fanfare in 2023, with Tesla CEO Elon Musk predicting the automaker could sell over 250,000 of the "apocalypse-proof" trucks a year. However, those stratospheric sales have failed to materialize. Tesla has shifted around 11,000 Cybertrucks in the US so far this year, after selling nearly 39,000 over the whole of 2024, per data from Cox Automotive. The futuristic pickup launched in the US with a price tag close to $100,000, far above the $39,900 Elon Musk suggested back in 2019. The cheapest version now starts at over $60,000. The Cybertruck is also not available in China and Europe, Tesla's biggest markets outside the US. Both markets have strict vehicle regulations that make selling big and bulky pickups like the Cybertruck — which weighs over 6,000kg — extremely difficult. One of the first Cybertrucks to appear in the UK was seized by police earlier this year for not being road-legal, while another that was registered in the European Union had to be modified to soften the trapezoid truck's notoriously sharp edges. Tesla has expanded Cybertruck sales to Canada and Mexico, and in April announced it would begin selling the pickup in Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar. The Cybertruck's slow sales and slower international expansion suggest it will be little help in turning around Tesla's sales slump. The EV giant said earlier this month that second-quarter sales had fallen 13.5%, its second year-over-year decline in a row. Read the original article on Business Insider Sign in to access your portfolio
New York Post
2 days ago
- Automotive
- New York Post
Tesla protesters take aim at Musk's retro-style diner with Nazi-styled balloons — even as lines stretch around the block
After tossing Molotov cocktails at vehicles and vandalizing showrooms, Tesla protesters are now taking aim at Elon Musk's retro-futuristic diner near Hollywood — even as lines of customers wrap around the block. Tall inflatable balloons designed to look like Musk, in Tesla-branded T-shirts and black MAGA hats, mimicked the Nazi salute while protesters chanted: 'Hey hey, ho ho, Elon Musk has got to go!' In videos posted to social media, one demonstrator can be seen splayed across the front of a Cybertruck and flipping the bird in an attempt to deter customers from driving into the diner's parking lot. Advertisement 4 Protesters outside the Tesla diner on Sunday. Fans of Musk showed up in full force, too, with one customer on YouTube claiming he waited 11 hours for the restaurant to open. Easily more than 20 vehicles can be seen backed up around the block in a video online as customers waited to order, while reports from last week described lines at least 100 people long. Advertisement For months, Musk has faced outrage from protesters at Tesla dealerships across the country following his severe government funding cuts. About 75 protesters gathered on Saturday at the 24-hour Tesla diner, which abruptly opened last week after years of Musk touting his vision for an 'old school drive-in, roller skates & rock restaurant.' Electric-vehicle charging stations wrap around the parking lot of the Tesla diner, which has a front door that looks like a glowing portal and neon red stripes atop the building. Advertisement 4 Elon Musk's Tesla diner abruptly opened last week. GC Images Tesla's Optimus humanoid robots filled cartons with fresh popcorn at the opening, while customers were served burgers in Cybertruck boxes and $12 maple-glazed bacon. There's a wraparound balcony on the top deck of the diner with tables and chairs where customers can enjoy dinner and a movie, as a large screen in the parking lot plays full-length films each night. Advertisement But protesters are hopeful that the buzz around the diner and drive-in theater will die down. 'This is the world's most renowned anti-trans advocate who just opened a diner in West Hollywood. The community is not very supportive of Elon,' Joel Lava, who led the protests at the diner, told CNN. While attendance at the Tesla Takedown protesters peaked in March, the demonstrations have still 'been going strong,' Lava said. 4 Demonstrators carried signs and chanted outside the Tesla diner. As of Monday, the Tesla Takedown site listed 45 upcoming protests. 'Our main message is Tesla funds facism. Elon Musk, via DOGE, has destroyed our government agencies and people's jobs, and people are dying around the world because of him,' Lava added. The Tesla brand has already endured significant brand damage from the protests, he said. Last week, the automaker reported its worst sales drop in a decade and earnings that missed Wall Street estimates. Advertisement 4 The retro-futuristic interior of the new Tesla diner. APEX / MEGA Tesla has also been steadily losing overseas market share to Chinese rivals, like EV maker BYD. But executives at the company have focused on the future of the company during earnings calls, boasting about its Optimus humanoid robots and robotaxis. Advertisement These opportunities, however, are pricey and risky bets, and it's expected that Tesla will soon feel more pain from President Trump's tariffs and the end of federal EV tax credits. The stock is down more than 15% so far this year, while most tech stocks and the Nasdaq have been on an upward tear.
