Automotive Fleet
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Tesla's Electric Pickup: Is It a Work Truck?

An up-close dose of Tesla’s Cybertruck from last night’s reveal in Hawthorne, Calif. answers some initial questions on whether it can function in a traditional fleet capacity.

Chris Brown
Chris BrownAssociate Publisher
Read Chris's Posts
November 22, 2019
Tesla's Electric Pickup: Is It a Work Truck?

The night of broken glass: In the event’s soon-to-be legendary “uh-oh moment,” Musk asked Tesla’s chief designer, Franz von Holzhausen, to test the window strength by throwing a steel ball at it. It broke, twice.

Photo by Chris Brown

4 min to read


Holy cow that was one heckuva party. Famous movie cars, a Vegas club laser show, a Ramen bar, an alcohol bar, Dr. Megavolt getting zapped by a giant Tesla coil, a hologram introduction, and of course, Elon Musk. The event — held Thursday night at Tesla’s Design Center next to SpaceX in Hawthorne, Calif. — was fanboy heaven. As it was meant to be.

And then there was the truck, which crawled on stage from an alternate universe or a Paul Verhoeven movie. In the default universe, new vehicle models are first teased as concepts in the cliched glamour of a traditional auto show. By the time the production model drives into showrooms, the concept has morphed from inspirational to utilitarian. We accept this bargain.

Ad Loading...

Whatever images were leaked or conjured of the Tesla Cybertruck, the model we saw onstage was more cyberpunk, more polarizing, more, more, more everything than the pre-reveal speculations.

Elon Musk, the other star of the show.

Photo by Chris Brown

First off, the look: The truck is more futuristic mini troop carrier than pickup. It’s got so many sharp angles you might get impaled. The truck’s profile forms a near-perfect 120-degree angle peak from the front grille to the rear tailgate. Traditional headlights have given way to a thin bar projecting a sliver of light. Any outward display of pickup truck-ness is concealed by an angled tonneau cover that covers the bed.

Form over function? I can just see the engineers at Knapheide with arms crossed and quizzical stares. With its angled sides, the Cybertruck is not designed for rack and bin packages, truck caps, ladder racks, or wheel well toolboxes — at least traditional ones.

With those angled sides, it’ll be much harder to swing tools and gear into the bed. Access is better served from the tailgate, removing traditional pickup functionality.

There is a pickup truck bed under there, somewhere.

Photo by Chris Brown

Let’s be clear, what rolled onto stage may not exactly be what rolls into driveways in late 2021 or early 2022. (And we’ve played Tesla’s waiting game before.) When I jumped on stage and beelined to the truck, I was caught by security before I could touch the supposedly bulletproof stainless-steel alloy compound.

Ad Loading...

The specs, however, are eye popping, at least on paper. The truck can carry 3,500 lbs. and maxes out towing at 14,000 lbs., putting it in the range of a ¾-ton pickup. The all-wheel drive truck will be available in single-, dual-, and tri-motor versions, which offer 250-, 300-, and 500-mile ranges. The tri motor is purportedly able to do 0-60 in 2.9 seconds. Wow.

The Tesla Cybertruck is already polarizing the pickup market — as Tesla intends.

Photo by Chris Brown

The price reveal — $39,900 for the base model — drew approving gasps from the crowd, particularly as there was speculation the truck would retail for just shy of $50k. But let’s be real, whatever price tag Elon Musk tosses out on stage is disassociated with the reality of supply and demand and the vehicle itself.

The Tesla Model 3 came with a well-publicized $35,000 base sticker, which is still only a phantom for the great majority of buyers. The Cybertruck, with more range, an unbreakable skin, and able to tackle extreme off-road tests like the Rubicon (said Musk onstage), is leaps ahead in the engineering department.

The max price of $69,900 for the tri motor feels more like the range this truck will play in for the foreseeable future. As a comparison, the almost-production ready Rivian R1T electric will start at $69,000.

Is this — could this ever be — a work truck? Work trucks don’t live in polarizing environments, particularly when they need to deal with all types of customers with whom contractors and plumbers interact. Who knows, companies like Red Bull will look to make a statement in the Cybertruck.

Ad Loading...

On the passenger side, fleets can soon look forward to more Model 3 sales, and Model Y (compact crossover) sales down the road. For the Cybertruck, we’ll have to wait to see how production specs, pricing, and customer acceptance fare before anyone touches it in a work capacity. That might take a while.

Some speculated on the show floor that the Cybertruck could be an off-road pursuit vehicle. If I’m to be arrested in any vehicle, I suppose it’d be that one.

Originally posted on Charged Fleet

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

More Vehicle Research

Cherry blossoms frame James Madison University's Atlantic Union Bank Center in Harrisonburg, Virginia, host site for the Mid-Atlantic Advanced Transportation Summit & Expo (MAATSE).
Vehicle Researchby StaffJuly 1, 2026

Mid-Atlantic Advanced Transportation Summit to Explore Fleet Fuels, Infrastructure, and Transportation Innovation

Fleet Forward Conference expands collaboration with Clean Cities organizations as part of a broader effort to connect fleet leaders with emerging transportation technologies and strategies.

Read More →
Graphic featuring an American flag and the text "10 Vehicles That Have Defined American Fleets" with Automotive Fleet branding and a gold "250" anniversary graphic.
Vehicle Researchby Faith HowellJune 30, 2026

America's 250th Birthday: Vehicles That Kept the Country Moving Over the Years

As the United States celebrates its 250th anniversary, Automotive Fleet looks back at 11 vehicles that helped shape commercial transportation.

Read More →
An Automotive Fleet podcast logo for episode 3
Vehicle ResearchJune 29, 2026

Can AI Really Make Fleet Drivers Safer?

Chris Brown and Wheels rep David Glines discuss how AI is reshaping safety for fleet drivers.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
GMC Sierra in desert
Vehicle Researchby Chris BrownJune 26, 2026

GMC Previews Redesigned 2027 Sierra 1500 with New V8 Engines, Expanded Technology

The next-generation Sierra arrives later this year with new powertrains, a fully redesigned cabin, and trims aimed at the premium end of the full-size pickup segment.

Read More →
Yellow Slate pickup truck on a platform.
Green Fleetby Martin RomjueJune 26, 2026

Slate Debuts Colorful, Unique EV Models

A recent media and client event, studded with electric vehicles dressed up on platforms, planted a new position for the manufacturer in the wider EV market. Fleets will find cost-saving advantages.

Read More →
Yellow Slate Fastback on a raised platform in a warehouse.
Green Fleetby Martin RomjueJune 25, 2026

Slate Electric SUV, Pickup Switchable Model Aims For Light-Duty Fleets

Everything about this EV is counterintuitive and understated, making it stand out from the crowd.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Profile view of Polestar 3
Vehicle Researchby Chris BrownJune 25, 2026

Polestar Barred from U.S. Market Under Connected Vehicle Rule

The automaker loses its authorization to sell new vehicles in the U.S., starting with the 2027 model year. Polestar owners will retain access to the brand's service network.

Read More →
Blue 2027 Nissan Frontier Sport Edition pickup truck parked on a dirt road with snow-capped mountains in the background, showcasing its off-road styling and all-terrain tires.

2027 Nissan Frontier Adds Sport Edition Package, New Features

Sport Edition joins the lineup with PRO-4X-inspired styling and off-road-oriented equipment; Frontier starts at $32,490.

Read More →
2027 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 models in a row
Vehicle Researchby Chris BrownJune 16, 2026

Chevrolet Brings Duramax Diesel to Work Truck Trim in Next-Generation 2027 Silverado 1500

The 2027 Silverado 1500 adds Duramax diesel availability to the Work Truck trim, introduces two new V-8 engines, and standardizes a 16.3-inch center display across all trims. Pricing and specifications are pending.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
A woman in an Automotive Fleet graphic about recalls, recognition, and the recent Ram return in the fleet indusry.
Vehicle Researchby Faith HowellJune 15, 2026

Recalls, Recognition, and Ram's Big Return | AF News Recap

This week's fleet headlines highlight a mix of industry leadership and an important safety reminder for fleet professionals.

Read More →