<ul class="summary-list"><li>Tesla's Cybertruck is closer than ever, so we asked three experts on car design what they think about it.</li><li>None were big fans of the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tesla-cybertruck-photos-show-changes-from-elon-musk-early-designs-2023-9">design</a>. </li></ul><p>To some, the upcoming Tesla Cybertruck looks like a clumsily designed, doorstop-shaped monstrosity. To others, the pickup's stainless steel body and bold, science fiction-inspired styling further prove Elon Musk's unparalleled genius for shaking up the car business.</p><p>It all depends on who you ask about what's quite possibly the most controversial new vehicle in recent history.</p><p>Given that <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tesla-truck-cybertruck">Cybertrucks</a> are supposed to finally make it to customers any day now, we decided to get some expert opinions on its appearance from three car designers. It's a small sample size, to be sure, but none of the experts we polled were huge fans.</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Just drove the production candidate Cybertruck at Tesla Giga Texas! <a href="https://t.co/S0kCyGUBFD">pic.twitter.com/S0kCyGUBFD</a></p>— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1694403816920137880?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 23, 2023</a></blockquote><p>"I haven't seen the thing in person yet, but do I really want this threatening-looking thing driving down my street? In my neighborhood? Not really," Paul Snyder, chair of the transportation design department at Detroit's College for Creative Studies, told Insider. "It's not something I would do or buy," he added, calling attention to the truck's dead-flat surfaces and lines.</p><p>Car companies will often show off adventurous initial designs for a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/heres-everything-that-happened-when-elon-musk-unveiled-the-cybertruck-2019-11">new model</a>, then tone things down when the time comes to actually make it. The near-production Cybertrucks that have been spotted on social media and out in public, however, appear nearly identical to the outlandish, angular truck Tesla unveiled nearly four years ago.</p><p>Instead of mimicking the upright, boxy shape of conventional pickups, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tesla">Tesla's</a> truck looks more like a triangle. Its body panels are straight as a board, not curved like the competition from <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ford-f150-lightning-platinum-electric-pickup-truck-review-photos-2023-10">Ford</a> and General Motors.</p><div type="image" title="Elon Musk stands in front of Tesla's all-electric Cybertruck on a stage with the price in red lights behind him." height="2862" width="4944" msid="104191209" hostid="261"></div><p>"The aesthetic messaging there is it's kind of a big fuck you to everybody," Snyder, whose design credits include the Honda Odyssey minivan and cult-favorite Ford Flex SUV, said. "And I think that's the point that they're trying to make, especially to Detroit pickup trucks and everybody who would buy one."</p><p>Matteo Licata, a former car designer and design history professor at Italy's IAAD (Istituto d'Arte Applicata e Design), said he applauds Tesla's courage to break norms but that its execution missed the mark.</p><p>"I can get behind that kind of lo-fi aesthetic, a brutal design that reminds me of the origami cars turned up to 11," he said, referring to a school of car design that produced wedge-shaped icons like the DeLorean DMC-12 and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/report-elon-musk-bought-working-007-bond-submarine-car-2013-10">Lotus Esprit</a>, a car Musk has said inspired the Cybertruck.</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Cybertruck design influenced partly by The Spy Who Loved Me <a href="https://t.co/HKBzxFNfzm">https://t.co/HKBzxFNfzm</a></p>— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1197638937109336066?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 21, 2019</a></blockquote><p>Subtle tweaks here and there could have elevated the final product's aesthetic appeal, he said.</p><p>"In car design, you wouldn't believe how much of a difference some small changes make," Licata said. "I mean they had time, hell, to perfect it. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tesla-cybertruck-release-date-delivery-delay-signs-2023-9">It wasn't a rush job</a>."</p><p>Geoff Wardle, the former executive director of the transportation systems and design department at California's ArtCenter College of Design, told Insider the Cybertruck isn't his cup of tea.</p><p>"Personally, it doesn't turn me on at all. I think it looks crude," he said. "But I understand totally what it's trying to do."</p><p>He said he thinks the "in-your-face, no-nonsense, extreme-looking" truck may prove popular among Musk's loyal fanbase — if Tesla can manage to produce it with good fit and finish, which <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/the-cybertrucks-stainless-steel-will-always-be-a-little-smudgy-2023-8">could be challenging given the unusual design</a>.</p><p>Whether the Cybertruck will stand the test of time is another question. Simplicity and purity are hallmarks of timeless design, Snyder said, and Tesla's wacky truck could fit the bill.</p><p>"You could say that the Cybertruck is also simple and pure — to the extent that it looks like a child's toy made of Legos or something," he said. "So maybe it could be timeless and continue to be controversial for decades."</p><p><em>Did you preorder a Cybertruck? Love or hate your Tesla or other EV? Never giving up gas? We want to hear your thoughts about EVs. Contact this reporter at tlevin@insider.com</em></p>

'It looks like a child's toy': 3 car designers react to Tesla's Cybertruck

<ul class="summary-list"><li><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tesla-ceo-elon-musk">Tesla CEO Elon Musk</a> said the Cybertruck's unique design has made scaling up production a challenge.</li><li>He also said that it will be some time before the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tesla-truck-cybertruck">Cybertruck</a> is cash flow positive. </li></ul><p>Elon Musk said that Tesla "dug its own grave" with the Cybertruck, as he warned that it would take years for the company to ramp up production of the electric pickup.</p><p>Speaking on <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tesla-earnings-q3-report-live-updates-guidance-analyst-call-stock-reaction-2023-10">Tesla's Q3 earnings call</a> on Wednesday, the Tesla CEO said that the Cybertruck's unique design meant the company faces immense challenges in scaling production, with Tesla aiming to produce a quarter of a million trucks a year by 2025.</p><p>"We dug our own grave with the Cybertruck," Musk said.</p><p>It's "one of those special products that comes along only once in a long while. And special products that come along once in a long while are just incredibly difficult to bring to market to reach volume, to be prosperous," he added.</p><p>Musk said that he wanted to "temper expectations" for the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tesla-cybertruck-release-date-november-delivery-event-giga-texas-2023-10">electric truck's launch</a>, which Tesla announced would be on November 30.</p><p>He warned that the challenges of scaling up production meant that it would likely be around 18 months before the Cybertruck is cash flow positive.</p><p>"I do want to emphasize that there will be enormous challenges in reaching volume production with the Cybertruck and then making the Cybertruck cashflow positive — this is simply normal," he said.</p><p>"When you've got a product with a lot of new technology or any brand new vehicle program, especially one that is as different and advanced as the Cybertruck, you will have problems proportionate to how many new things you're trying to solve at scale," he added.</p><p>The launch of the Cybertruck comes at a crucial time for Tesla. Although the company dominates the EV market, its <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tesla-ev-market-share-slipping-all-depends-on-cybertruck-2023-10"><u>market share has slipped in recent years</u></a> as competitors like Ford and Rivian expand their operations.</p><p>The Cybertruck is seen as vital for Tesla to fend off this burgeoning competition. First announced in 2019, the futuristic pickup truck was expected to ship in 2021, but has experienced <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/teslas-cybertruck-release-date-delayed-delay-2022-elon-musk-2021-8"><u>several delays</u></a> as Tesla grappled with the vehicle's unique design and the complexity of producing it at scale.</p><p>According to CNBC, Elon Musk <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-emails-all-tesla-staff-to-complain-about-cybertruck-2023-8"><u>sent an email to Tesla employees</u></a> in August saying that the Cybertruck should be as precisely designed as a Lego brick, with measurements that could not vary by more than 10 microns. A micron is equivalent to one-thousandth of a millimeter.</p><p>Earlier versions of the pickup seen in the wild have been called out for scratching and finish issues by prospective buyers, as well as being <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tesla-cybertruck-might-be-fingerprint-magnet-stainless-steel-body-2023-8"><u>fingerprint magnets</u></a> because of their stainless steel body.</p><p>Despite this, demand for the Cybertruck is through the roof, according to Musk, who said on Wednesday that over one million people have reserved the truck.</p><p>Tesla did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Insider made outside normal working hours.</p>

Elon Musk says 'we dug our own grave' with the Cybertruck as he warns Tesla faces enormous production challenges 

<ul><li>A Tesla fan as submitted a possibly functioning model of Elon Musk's new Cybertruck to LEGO.</li><li>The basic LEGO design currently only has a functional front truck and tailgate.</li><li>With LEGO's help, the model could be even motorised to be driven around.</li></ul>Elon Musk's new <keyword id="8304544" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="tesla-cybertruck">Tesla Cybertruck</keyword> has been called '<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/teslas-cybertruck-has-been-called-ugly-as-sin-here-are-12-other-cars-that-are-considered-the-ugliest-ever-produced-/articleshow/72248160.cms">ugly as sin</a>' and '<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/looks-weird-like-really-weird-wall-street-isnt-sold-on-teslas-new-cybertruck-design-heres-what-7-analysts-think-about-the-electric-pickup-/articleshow/72190589.cms">looks weird… like, really weird</a>' — LEGO even posted a tweet to make its point. Yet, a <keyword id="8414750" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="lego-cybertruck">LEGO Cybertruck</keyword> set might be in the making and get shipped before the real Tesla Cybertrucks. <br /><br />
	<div type="twitter" handle="LEGO_Group" handlename="LEGO" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1198949412237709313/kXmJNLLH_normal.jpg" favoritecount="107127" retweetcount="28376" status="The evolution of the truck is here. Guaranteed shatterproof 😬 https://t.co/RocTEkzzwI" createdat="1574852410000" id="1199644074866888706"></div>



<br />A Tesla fan — BrickinNick, who calls himself a 'Creative Lego Builder' — posted his proposed design of what a Tesla Cybertruck might look if built by LEGO on the company's <a href="https://ideas.lego.com/projects/feded687-eab3-4409-8e30-ee43db4b63d7">Ideas</a> forum. <br /><br />
	<div type="twitter" handle="BrickinNick" handlename="BrickinNick" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1018981060544225281/KeAGMieY_normal.jpg" favoritecount="125" retweetcount="20" status="I can hardly believe it. We passed 1,000 Supporters over night on our LEGO Cybertruck 🤯  ⚡️LETS KEEP THIS HYPE TRAI… https://t.co/KKaYHpv1S4" createdat="1575484601000" id="1202295678153711616"></div>



<br />The project needs 10,000 fans to vote in support of the design before LEGO even considers the undertaking. But, within three days, it already has around 2,000 votes with 603 days left on the docket.<br /><br />
	<div type="twitter" handle="TeslaPodcast" handlename="Tesla Daily" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/899999295621001217/IlYaynSx_normal.jpg" favoritecount="360" retweetcount="93" status="#Cybertruck has been submitted as a Lego Idea. Just needs 10k supporters to be reviewed by @LEGO_Group. No cost to… https://t.co/8SR54qmKfH" createdat="1575409671000" id="1201981395809255424"></div>



<br /><strong>Even Tesla has something to gain<br /></strong><br />"As a long-time electric vehicle (EV) fan, I was excited for Tesla to be bringing out their own 'Cyberpunk' inspired pickup truck. So much so, that I decided to build my own. Together, we can bring this crazy all-electric vehicle to LEGO fans all over the world," BrickinNick said in the product description.<br /><br /><br />
  <div type="image" title="cybertruck4" msid="72393969" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Design rendering of the LEGO Cybertruck&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div>



<br />And, it's not just LEGO fans that have something to gain. It's  good also be a good move for Telsa if the LEGO Cybertruck becomes a reality. According to Nick, Telsa's mission to boost the use of sustainable energy and LEGO Group's goal of leaving a position impact on the planet go hand-in-hand.<br /><br />
  <div type="image" title="cybertruck3" msid="72393973" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Design rendering of the LEGO Cybertruck&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div>



<br />"The striking yet fun design of this LEGO Cybertruck would be an amazing way to get kids and adults alike excited about EVs and all the good they can do for our environment," he said.<br /><br /><strong>A LEGO Cybertruck that does more than just sit there<br /></strong><br />Unlike <a href="https://ideas.lego.com/projects/fb5acafa-b560-4b08-93bb-ac5b2a9c6471">other designs</a> of the Cybertruck on the Lego forum, Nick's design comes complete with a functional front truck and a tailgate, which opens and closes . But, if LEGO is at the reigns, the model might be able to do a lot more. <br /><br />
  <div type="image" title="cybertruck1" msid="72393990" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Design rendering of the LEGO Cybertruck&amp;#39;s showing the tailgate open&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div>



<br /><br />With LEGO's support, it could have opening passenger doors, a full interior, a slide-out ramp, opening charging ports, steering, suspension, and even the Tesla ATV. <br /><br />
  <div type="image" title="cybertruck2" msid="72394000" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Design rendering of the LEGO Cybertruck where the front truck opens&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div>



<br />"LEGO motorization could even turn this into a truly all-electric vehicle in brick form," he said, which means one could drive it around with a remote control.<br /><br />But, as of now, it's only an idea. Hopefully, the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/finance/news/the-tesla-cybertruck-is-the-first-stainless-steel-vehicle-since-the-ill-fated-delorean-heres-a-closer-look-at-both/articleshow/72375879.cms">first stainless-steel vehicle since the ill-fated DeLorean</a> will soon have a LEGO version, which will also be a whole lot cheaper than $40,000.<br /><br /><br />

You might be able to build your own Cybertruck if LEGO and Tesla fans have their way

<br /><ul><li>LEGO new <keyword id="6382020" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="international-space-station">International Space Station</keyword> (ISS) kit was just an idea before fans rallied behind it.<br /></li><li>Through the LEGO Ideas forum, creators can pitch their ideas and, if they get enough votes, the company will review the idea and consider putting it in stores.<br /></li><li>Other than the ISS, creators and fans are looking for <keyword id="6360701" type="DEFINITION" weightage="20" keywordseo="spacex">SpaceX</keyword>, <keyword id="199288" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Blue-Origin">Blue Origin</keyword> and sci-fi based LEGO kits to build.<br /></li></ul>LEGO plans to release a build set for the International Space Station (ISS) on February 1 but before the public could get their hands on it, it decided to launch it into space first.<br /><br />The company attached a fully built LEGO ISS to a weather balloon and sent it into the Earth’s stratosphere, “to get it as close as possible to the real ISS”. <br /><br /><div type="twitter" handle="LEGO_Group" handlename="LEGO" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1198949412237709313/kXmJNLLH_normal.jpg" favoritecount="9400" retweetcount="2521" status="An out-of-this-world building experience is coming! 🌙⭐️ The LEGO International Space Station is available February… https://t.co/eLBmf6l1Bh" createdat="1579618935000" id="1219636329035837441"></div>

<br />LEGO claims that their designs are as accurate as can be with an access hatch, a spacecraft dock, and solar panels. Just to make sure they had it right, the designs were also checked and approved by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).<br /><br />The ISS LEGO kit is only the most recent addition to the company’s long line of NASA ideas including the Saturn V rocket, Women of NASA, and Space Shuttle Explorer among others.<br /><br /><strong>Designing the <keyword id="8622855" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="international-space-station-lego">International Space Station LEGO</keyword> Set<br /></strong>The real brains behind the ISS LEGO set is <a href="https://ideas.lego.com/blogs/a4ae09b6-0d4c-4307-9da8-3ee9f3d368d6/post/11403b15-3458-4e17-9e02-fa71bea750d9">Christophe Ruge</a>. He submitted his design to the LEGO ideas forum where it first had to garner 10,000 votes before a team of experts reviewed the design. Only once they approved it, the ISS went into production.<br /><br /><br /><div type="ExtQuote" text="The most difficult part was the overall stability of the structure. It is very fragile which is not a big deal in a zero-gravity environment. But it is down here on Earth!" auname="Christophe Ruge"></div>

<br />Since 2014, Ruge has submitted over a dozen ideas for LEGO Products. In real life he’s a computer engineer that works for a company that builds trains. And, he’s not the only one looking to turn his ideas into a reality. <br /><br />The LEGO ideas forum is filled with creators pitching their own build sets. BrickinNick, for example, recently joined the 10K club after his design for the Tesla Cybertruck garnered 10,000 votes in over one month. In comparison, the ISS design took eight months to hit the 10,000-mark.<br /><br /><strong>Here some other space-themed LEGO build sets that creators are hoping the company will make in the near future:</strong><br />

LEGO fans want more space-themed kits, like the International Space Station

<p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5dd80d7bfd9db2052c41b5dc-2160/Cybertruck%205.jpeg" border="0" alt="Cybertruck 5" data-mce-source="Tesla" data-link="https://www.tesla.com/cybertruck" /></div></div></div><ul class="summary-list"><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/tesla">Tesla</a> released the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/tesla-cybertruck">Cybertruck</a>, its new six-person pickup, last week.</li><li>The electric truck&#xa0;ranges in price between $39,990 and $76,900, and production is planned to begin by the end of 2021.</li><li>The truck's unusual design has been controversial, with some people outright hating it, but others are big fans of the company's attempt to try something new.</li><li>Toy brand LEGO jumped in on the jokes, posting an image on Twitter with its take on the Cybertruck.</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/"><strong>Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.</strong></a></li></ul><p>Tesla released the electric Cybertruck last Thursday, and people haven't stopped talking about it since. The most expensive model costs nearly $80,000, and will go into production in 2021.&#xa0;</p><p>The design has been <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-tesla-cybertruck-roasted-twitter-2019-11">roasted</a> on Twitter, compared to everything from the Warthog in the HALO series to a DeLorean. Not everyone hates the design, though: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/blade-runners-syd-mead-says-cybertruck-exceeds-expectations-2019-11">Syd Mead</a>, artistic director of "Blade Runner," called the Cybertruck "stylistically breathtaking."</p><p>CEO <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/elon-musk">Elon Musk</a> says that there have already been <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-reports-250000-pre-orders-for-tesla-cybertruck-2019-11">250,000 preorders</a> for the truck.</p><p>Not to be left out, toy brand LEGO joined in on Twitter Wednesday to poke fun at the unorthodox design:</p><p>The rendering mirrors the images provided by Tesla.</p><p>LEGO even referenced the major snafu of Tesla's announcement last week, when the lead designer <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-reaction-to-tesla-cybertruck-window-cracking-video-2019-11?r=US&amp;IR=T">cracked the Cybertruck's window</a> twice while attempting to show the strength of the glass.&#xa0;&#xa0;</p><p>You can watch Elon Musk's reaction here.</p><ul class="read-more-links"><li>Read more of Business Insider's Cybertruck coverage:</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tesla-cybertruck-pickup-truck-praised-by-silicon-valley-execs-twitter-2019-11" data-analytics-position="2" data-analytics-module="">People have been ridiculing Tesla's new Cybertruck for its unusual design - but some big names in Silicon Valley say they love the pickup</a></li><li><a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/tesla-stock-price-gains-elon-musk-tweets-cybertruck-pre-orders-2019-11-1028714931" data-analytics-position="5" data-analytics-module="">Tesla surges after Elon Musk says more than 200,000 people have ordered the controversial new Cybertruck</a></li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/grimes-elon-musk-cybertruck-unveil-as-cybergirl-2019-11" data-analytics-position="13" data-analytics-module="">People are saying the 'cybergirl' who introduced Elon Musk at Tesla's Cybertruck unveiling was girlfriend Grimes - here's the evidence</a></li></ul><p class="tagline"><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/intelligence/future-of-retail?IR=T&amp;itm_source=businessinsider&amp;itm_medium=ctgr_bii&amp;itm_term=ctgr_leadgen&amp;itm_content=tesla&amp;itm_campaign=future-of-retail-2"><img src="https://static.businessinsider.com/image/5dcb11a63afd37083c1cbb6b" alt="Exclusive FREE Slide Deck: Future of Retail: Delivery &amp; Fulfillment by Business Insider Intelligence" border="0" style="width: 100% !important" /></a></p><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>The evolution of the truck is here. Guaranteed shatterproof 😬 <a href="https://t.co/RocTEkzzwI">pic.twitter.com/RocTEkzzwI</a></p>- LEGO  (@LEGO_Group) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1199644074866888706?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 27, 2019</a></blockquote><script async="" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/SwvDOdBHYBw?start=461" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

You Searched For "lego cybertruck design" and got 5 results

'It looks like a child's toy': 3 car designers react to Tesla's Cybertruck

Tim Levin

Elon Musk says 'we dug our own grave' with the Cybertruck as he warns Tesla faces enormous production challenges

Tom Carter

You might be able to build your own Cybertruck if LEGO and Tesla fans have their way

Prabhjote Gill

LEGO fans want more space-themed kits, like the International Space Station

Prabhjote Gill

LEGO poked fun at Tesla's controversial Cybertruck design with a block on wheels that's 'guaranteed shatterproof'

Mary Meisenzahl