Tesla has suspended sales of the Cybertruck electric pickup truck due to increasing problems with the exterior panels flying off the vehicle while it is in motion. Numerous customers have reported the problem on online forums and Elon Musk’s X platform, while the website Electrek has reported instances of parts “flying off” the car, including the roof finish. The problems seem to worsen in cold weather, suggesting that low temperatures affect the adhesives used. Despite initial success, with more than one million reservations, Tesla has had to resort to discounts to stimulate sales and has converted high-end models back to cheaper versions. The Cybertruck that went into production in 2023 has a particularly height-developed exoskeleton, and the panels are attached with adhesive but are not an integral part of the body and chassis as in traditional cars.
Recently the Tesla brand has become a target for those who harshly oppose Elon Musk’s policies in the United States and across Europe since the billionaire emerged as Trump’s closest adviser with full power over cuts and mass layoffs granted to him as head of DOGE. In addition, Musk has been harshly criticized by those who do not approve of his criticism of Ukraine and Europe. Last week, during violent demonstrations that took place between the U.S. and Europe in which some Tesla vehicles, dealerships, and charging stations were set on fire, Trump accused “radical leftist lunatics” of boycotting Tesla. As a result of the political demonstrations against Tesla and thus against Musk, and because of these recent serious flaws found in the Cybertruck vehicle, Tesla’s stock price has plummeted in recent weeks.
