The Cybertruck’s VIN tells us some issues about Tesla’s long-delayed truck

Tesla’s Cybertruck is lastly nearing its first supply occasion on November thirtieth, and but we nonetheless don’t have key particulars on configurations, costs, and different specs of the unconventionally designed pickup truck.

However right now, we bought some perception for the launch, together with preliminary Cybertruck powertrain choices and Gross Automobile Weight Score (GVWR), because of new VIN data from the Nationwide Freeway and Site visitors Security Administration (NHTSA).

A required VIN decoder submission that Tesla and different automakers should present to NHTSA earlier than automobiles are delivered to prospects is now obtainable for all to see and decipher. A Verge tipster pointed us to a Cybertruck Homeowners Membership discussion board publish the place consumer Throwcomputer offered an evaluation of Tesla’s mannequin yr 2024 VIN decoder submission. For instance, the fourth digit within the VIN represents Cybertruck as “C” and Tesla Semi as “T.”

However the place it will get attention-grabbing is Digit 8, which represents the motor, drive unit, and braking system of the car. The choices for Cybertruck embody “D” for “Twin Motor — Normal” and “E” for “Triple Motor — Efficiency.”

The doc additionally gives some perception on GVWR, which is the car’s max weight with passengers and cargo. Choices for Digit 6 within the VIN embody class “G” for a Cybertruck GVWR that’s between 8,001 and 9,000 kilos, whereas class “H” is between 9,001 and 10,000 kilos. On the discussion board, consumer Bill837 estimates the twin motor curb weight between 5,001 kilos and 6,000 and the tri-motor between 6,001 and seven,000 kilos. For comparability, the Ford F-150 Lightning Platinum mannequin’s GVWR is 8,550 kilos and has a curb weight of 6,500 kilos.

Again when the Cybertruck was first revealed in 2019, Tesla introduced an entry rear-wheel drive mannequin with a single motor for $39,900. It appears this mannequin is not going to come to fruition, not less than for the 2024 mannequin years. As a reminder, the preliminary value for the twin motor was set at $49,900 and $69,900 for the triple motor.

Nonetheless, final yr, Tesla CEO Elon Musk stated the Cybertruck is going to be dearer than initially deliberate. Sadly, no quantity of VIN evaluation will uncover costs, battery capability, and EPA-estimated vary.