[quote=Hobie]With the electric drive eliminating the rear axle, I was hoping it would have some kind of hydraulic lowering bed feature. Handy to some. It will look strange as a real work truck with a ladder rack.
Notice it is missing the side mirrors? Adding them on will definitely change its look.
But, it screams to be vinyl wrapped. Its perfect as a rolling billboard. Every tattoo, bail bond, etc. shop will be getting one of these.
They will never sell to a Dodge Ram diesel guy, but I think it will have good sales.[/quote]
Interesting point about the side mirrors, especially since a tow vehicle needs mirrors that stick out farther than normal.
America has a massive truck culture, people that buy trucks because that’s what men drive. Even women buy them as a symbol of masculinity. Most of these buyers don’t even use their trucks as trucks and the specs don’t really matter, as long as it looks tough. These buyers need a big chrome grill and a loud engine. The Tesla won’t be penetrating that market for a long time.
Another huge segment of the market is fleet vehicles that are purchased in bulk by corporations and government. With some modifications, Tesla could have some success selling into those markets if they can show that the total cost of ownership is lower over the long term.
I’m not ordering one, but I am keeping an eye on it. I tow a camping trailer and I’m interested in understanding how range is affected with a load. The lack of chargers in remote locations could also be an issue (will there be charging stations in Bishop or the canyonlands of Southern Utah?) I do like the high clearance. The offroad specs look better than any mainstream truck. It has potential, but for people that actually use a truck as a truck, there are many unanswered questions about the Tesla.
