Tesla, a future case study for securities law classes across America, had to stop delivering Cybertrucks this past weekend. No, not because the hundred-thousand–dollar medium-duty pickup, which is only any of those things in the loosest interpretive sense, tends to brick when it gets rained on; nor because its stainless steel panels get all rusty and nasty-looking after weeks exposed to the rare, harsh condition of “being outside.” Perhaps you think it has something to do with the shorter-than-advertised driving range and longer-than-advertised charging time, but no: Rather, the cause of this snag is that the trucks struggle with the basics of stopping and going, by which I mean that the accelerator pedal cover slides off and gets stuck under a panel and locks the accelerator pressed down and keeps the Cybertruck stuck at maximum velocity.

Other Tesla models have had issues with speeding up and slowing down at the wrong times. The company was sued in 2017 by drivers whose cars drove themselves unexpectedly through garages and into walls; a German paper reported last year on over 2,400 complaints about sudden braking problems; and a safety researcher published a white paper showing how voltage spikes could lead Teslas to speed up without warning. You are supposed to like this because it means you are on the cutting edge, helping Elon Musk in his quest to save humanity.

Suckers who ordered Cybertrucks a few months or years ago and expected deliveries this weekend did not get their cars, nor a precise explanation for why they did not get their cars, but instead were simply told, “Hi, we have just been informed of an unexpected delay regarding the preparation of your vehicle. We need to cancel your delivery appointment for tomorrow and we will reach out again when we’re able to get you back on the schedule.” Maybe someone with a hot glue gun will get on this one.

  • Howdy@lemmy.zip
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    8 months ago

    I saw one in the wild the first time a couple weeks ago on an interstate. It looks so fucking dumb in person. The pictures don’t do it justice of how insanely stupid looking it is.

    • Gerudo@lemm.ee
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      8 months ago

      I finally saw one in person, and this is so true. It’s like a kindergartner was told to draw a picture of a truck and then made it in real life.

        • Kiosade@lemmy.ca
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          8 months ago

          I’ve seen like 4 or 5 so far (Bay Area). It ALWAYS catches my eye how stark and stupid they look.

      • tacofox@lemm.ee
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        8 months ago

        It was most likely wrapped in vinyl.

        Unfortunately for the owners, it’s not just for vanity, see (literally), handprints, rust, and “surface contamination” all but requiring getting some sort of protective skin, wrap, iPhone case or whatever installed as soon as you get it to prevent damage/maintenance. Oh good thing ol tessy sells a factory wrap.

    • Nakoichi [they/them]@hexbear.net
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      8 months ago

      Yeah there is one guy in town that I have seen a few times. I’m amazed every time I see it on the road because they seem to have a ridiculous failure rate.