When Elon Musk first unveiled Tesla’s sophisticated electric pickup truck Cybertruck back in 2019, the bulletproof glass breaking during a stunt was the highlight of the event. In a matter of hours, everyone on the internet was talking about Tesla and their instant failure to deliver a bulletproof vehicle. But is it really over? Or is the Cybertruck really bulletproof?
Tesla Cybertruck’s glass windows and stainless steel body are actually designed in a way that allows the vehicle to be bulletproof. The pickup truck’s body panels are made of a special ultra-hard cold-rolled steel alloy that offers high rigidity. Cybertruck’s glass windows, which Elon Musk calls ‘Tesla Armor Glass’, are also strong enough to stop any 9mm rounds but most likely there won’t be any armor rating.
The information we heard over the years clearly shows that Tesla Cybertruck will be a hard-to-beat vehicle. It will definitely offer some serious protection, it might even be considered a bulletproof car. But Tesla’s focus will be on its practicality and simplicity. It’s a useful all-electric pickup truck that you can go to work, or go on a vacation. It’s not a boring pickup truck your uncle drives for the last couple of decades. Cybertruck will appeal to all kinds of customers. That’s what makes this truck special, not its somehow bulletproof body panels or unbreakable(!) glass windows.
What About The Cybertruck Exoskeleton?
As we already know, Tesla scrapped the idea of an exoskeleton body for the Cybertruck. Instead, Texas-based EV maker will use a body structure similiar to Model Y, which consists of huge single-piece aluminum castings that will function as the body of the vehicle and stainless steel panels will be installed over the body.
This body structure will definitely make Tesla’s job easier. Over the last couple of years, Tesla has familiarized itself with huge die-cast machines and it’s getting easier for Tesla to manufacture new vehicles with this same underpinnings. Tesla even ordered its famous supplier iDRA to build 9,000-tonne casting machinery for the Cybertruck production. Instead of engineering an exoskeleton body from stratch, EV maker chose an easier path to Cybertruck’s production.
Tesla is still on track for using its special steel alloy in the Cybertruck, Elon Musk confirmed couple of months ago. Production will begin as early as August 2023. The production output will be low at first, large-scale production is due in 2024.
