2023 Tesla Cybertruck will be sold without painted body, says Elon Musk

Even though the Cybertruck has been repeatedly delayed and won’t enter production until the end of 2022, every now and then, Tesla keeps sharing tidbits about the ultra-angular EV. In a bid to keep the GMC Hummer EV competitor in the headlines, Elon Musk strategically reveals details about one of the most controversial vehicles we’ve seen in years. The latest topic? Paint.

Better said, the lack of any paint whatsoever as Tesla’s head honcho has announced the 2023 Cybertruck will be sold exclusively with a bare body. Paraphrasing automotive icon Henry Ford, the 50-year-old executive has declared the “Tesla Cybertruck can come in any color as long as it’s nothing.” However, he did hint the edgy pickup could be offered later in its life cycle with a body wrap. Initially, the “Ultra-Hard 30X Cold-Rolled stainless-steel structural skin” will not have a drop of paint or an inch of wrap on it.

It goes without saying aftermarket companies will be eager to offer body wraps from day one to capitalize on the immense popularity of the 2023 Cybertruck. It is believed roughly 1.3 million reservations have been made since the prototype was unveiled a little over two years ago. With a fully exposed stainless-steel body, the hotly anticipated electric pickup will look quite imposing on the road. That’s especially true since prototypes have been spotted featuring three amber lights, which are mandatory in the United States for vehicles wider than 80 inches (2.03 meters) to meet DOT regulations.

The lack of paint will help Tesla shave off some weight, although it’s going to be a drop in the bucket given the sheer size and heft of the Cybertruck. Based on Tesla’s California Air Resources Board’s (CARB) filing, its new EV will be classified as a “medium-duty truck.” It effectively means it will weigh anywhere between 8,500 to 10,000 pounds (3,855 to 4,535 kilograms). When it was unveiled in November 2019, the wild utilitarian vehicle was 231.7 inches (5.88 meters) long, 79.8 inches wide (2.02 meters), and 75 inches (1.9 meters) tall – making it big enough to accommodate six adults.

The production version will be slightly different in terms of appearance and proportions and won’t have the massive windscreen wiper recently noticed on a prototype undergoing testing. Elon Musk has previously announced Tesla will disclose additional details about the road-going Cybertruck in January 2022 during the company’s next earnings call. It remains to be seen whether the production-ready version will be unveiled next month.

Source: Elon Musk via Electrek