Tesla Cybertruck's Biggest Drawback Is 'Car Wash'
Painting and Gloss Finish Not Possible, Causing Stains
Body Wear During Automatic and Steam Car Wash
"Must Wipe with Baby Wipes"
The 'Cybertruck,' Tesla's flagship electric vehicle, is facing difficulties due to its tendency to easily get stained and the challenges involved in washing it. Owners who have purchased the Cybertruck continue to complain about the difficulty of cleaning, raising concerns that this could negatively impact future sales.
Frequent stains on stainless steel body: "Must gently rub with baby wipes"
Recently, a resident of Virginia who purchased a Tesla Cybertruck told The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), "Since buying the Cybertruck, I have been worried about stains and have spent hours every day searching the internet for washing methods." He added, "I spent $500 (about 660,000 KRW) just on appropriate cleaning agents, and as I kept buying various car wash products, the tables in my restaurant became filled with them."
According to WSJ, Cybertruck owners are posting repeatedly on various online communities about how difficult it is to wash the vehicle. While the Cybertruck's exterior design, resembling a vehicle from a sci-fi movie, is considered a strong point, this very design makes washing extremely challenging. The body surface of the Cybertruck is made of stainless steel, and unlike typical vehicles that have paint and gloss finishes which resist stains, it is prone to staining.
Additionally, there is a drawback that the body surface can be worn down if subjected to automatic car washes. The user manual provided to Cybertruck owners states that "the body surface should be wiped with a soft sponge and neutral detergent." It advises avoiding hot water, high-alkaline detergents, rough cloths, and direct sunlight, and also does not recommend automatic car washes.
In particular, dead insects, oil, and calcium chloride used for de-icing can corrode the body, so stains must be removed immediately. However, to prevent damage to the body, stains must be carefully rubbed off using baby wipes, making stain removal difficult, WSJ pointed out.
Dominating the electric truck market... but high price and washing costs are drawbacks
According to S&P Global Mobility's data, the number of registered Cybertrucks in July was 5,175. The combined registrations of other major electric trucks such as the Ford F-150 Lightning, Rivian R1T, Chevrolet Silverado EV, and Hummer EV totaled 5,546, meaning the Cybertruck holds a dominant market share in the electric truck market. Pre-orders for the Cybertruck exceeded one million last year and are approaching two million.
If the drawback of the Cybertruck being very difficult to wash continues to be highlighted alongside its high price tag of $100,000 (about 133 million KRW), it could negatively affect future sales. While the Cybertruck boasts overwhelming sales compared to competitors in the electric truck sector, production delays have lengthened the waiting period for pre-order customers, and rising prices are causing consumer dissatisfaction.
Tesla's Cybertruck production is currently about 2,000 units per week. Although production capacity has improved from 1,300 units, it is expected to take a considerable time to fulfill all backorders. There are even forecasts that current pre-order customers may have to wait more than five years to receive their Cybertruck.
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