Tesla Cybertruck: Its bodywork is European!
This page is translated from the original post "Tesla Cybertruck : sa carrosserie est européenne !" in French.
- 12/10/2023 8:14
Tesla has revealed the identity of its subcontractor responsible for the stainless steel body of its Cybertruck, and it is Finnish.
It’s the kind of announcement with a double-edged nature. By revealing the identity of its subcontractor in charge of the highly complex stainless steel part of the body, Outokumpu, Tesla may have played with fire.
Why? Because the great pride of American fans was rooted in the secret idea that the Cybertruck was a 100% American creation, a disruptive vehicle like only the USA can produce. This remains true in practice, but for some purists, Outokumpu’s identity should have remained secret. Some manufacturing secrets should not be disclosed to preserve the mystery: a magician does not reveal the technique behind their tricks. Tesla should not have disclosed that a Finnish company—very few Americans probably even knew this country existed—”came to aid” the automotive giant.
The architecture of the Tesla Cybertruck is indeed what makes it distinctive. Long, wide, with cubic shapes, its rigidity was a major concern during development. To such an extent that the Cybertruck opted for a chassis and body in stainless steel, which will have an undeniable impact on its final weight. Aluminum, which is also very complex to mold and stiffen, was therefore not chosen.
And to acquire this very rare expertise, Tesla went all the way to Finland, to one of the world’s leading stainless steel producers. However, Outokumpu is not a small craftsperson. The company employs over 10,000 people across about thirty countries worldwide. One plant is located in Alabama, in the United States, where the steel might be manufactured.
In the end, while Tesla is finally succumbing to the trend of wrapping its bodies to easily offer multiple colors from the catalog—but at a prohibitive cost of $8,000. Experts can do it for half the price… Maybe Tesla could have saved years of development time with this adhesive solution.
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