This archive report was first published on 24 November 2019.
On November 21, 2019, Tesla Inc unveiled its futuristic Cybertruck pickup, but the launch was overshadowed by a demonstration of the vehicle's 'armored glass' windows shattering.
During a test at the Tesla Design Studio in Hawthorne, California, the driver's side window cracked when Tesla's head of design, Franz von Holzhausen, struck it with a metal ball. The rear passenger window also cracked when von Holzhausen threw the metal ball at it.
Elon Musk, Tesla's CEO, was present at the event and seemed taken aback by the failure of the windows. 'Oh my God, well, maybe that was a little too hard,' he said, adding 'Room for improvement.'
Despite the setback, some Wall Street analysts praised the launch, but others expressed doubts about the vehicle's mass appeal. Tesla shares fell 6% to $333.41, while shares of Ford and General Motors rose about 2%.
General Motors' first electric pickup will go on sale in 2021, around the same time as Tesla's. GM Chief Executive Mary Barra told investors on November 21, 2019, that the company's electric pickup would be a key part of its strategy to compete with Tesla.
Online critics also mocked the Cybertruck's space-age design, with some calling it 'ugly.' The vehicle's starting price of $39,900 has drawn criticism from some analysts, who say it may be too high for the mass market.
