Tesla has yet to bring its much-anticipated Cybertruck to market as CEO Elon Musk has revealed that the electric vehicle is in a pre-production phase and will likely be delivered at the end of September. Some Cybertruck prototypes, however, have been spotted in recent weeks on roads around Tesla's (TSLA) factory in Fremont, Calif., so it won't be long before fans can purchase and drive away with the vehicle.
Cybertruck will ramp up the competition for electric trucks when it rolls off the assembly line with its 500-mile range on a charge. Ford (F) already has America's best selling electric pickup since it launched in April 2022. The Ford F-150 Lightning has an EPA estimated top range of 320 miles.
Forget Tesla -- We’re all-in on this EV stock
General Motors (GM) is supposed to deliver the electric version of the Chevrolet Silverado pickup sometime in 2023. Rivian (RIVN) already markets the R1T, a pickup full of technological innovations. Rivian's R1T has a max range of 314 miles. The Netherlands-based Stellantis (STLA) in April unveiled details on its all-electric 2025 Ram 1500 REV, its first battery electric light-duty pickup truck that will be built in the US and available in the fourth quarter of 2024.
Mercedes Benz Group (DDAIF) does not have an electric pickup truck for consumers at this time, but it has plans for a couple of other electric vehicles that would compete directly with Tesla.
Mercedes Benz/TheStreet
Looking for Good News After Recalls
Mercedes has been looking for some good news to report lately after starting the year with some disappointing recalls. The automaker on Jan. 3 notified dealers of a voluntary recall of over 123,000 internal combustion engine vehicles in model years from 2001 to 2011 for a problem with sunroofs. Car owners were informed of the recall on Feb. 21, according to the filing with the National Highway Safety Administration.
The automaker on the same day informed dealers of a voluntary recall of over 323,000 vehicles from model years 2012 to 2020 for a water intrusion problem that could cause car engines to stall while driving, according to the National Highway Safety Administration report. Car owners would be notified on Feb. 21. Mercedes said that it was not aware of any crashes or injuries caused by the defect.
Two New Electric Mercedes Vehicles Coming
Mercedes finally had some good news as it revealed at a North American dealer event last week in Vancouver, British Columbia, that in 2024 it plans to deliver its new all-electric, compact CLA sedan that will compete with Tesla's Model 3 and an electric GLC crossover, which it hopes will cut into the Tesla Model Y market, InsideEVs reported.
The CLA sedan will be larger that its internal combustion engine counterpart and will charge up to 400 miles in range. The EV will be marketed to young, tech-oriented customers who might normally be attracted to a Tesla vehicle. The CLA is expected to attract 60% new buyers to the brand.
The GLC crossover is expected to have a range of 300 miles on a charge. The EV is the automaker's answer to its EQC crossover EV that was cancelled due to its short charge range of 220 miles.
