The Tesla Cybertruck has been a long time coming and if the carmaker’s current plans remain unchanged, it will hit the production line later this year. When it does, it will reach the roads with a feature the original concept didn’t have.
While responding to a congratulatory tweet from the Tesla Owners Online account on Twitter regarding the company’s record-breaking second quarter, Elon Musk revealed that the Cybertruck’s design will be “almost exactly” the same as the 2019 concept and will arrive with rear-wheel steering.
Read Also: Crowdsourced Tracker Suggests Cybertruck Reservations Could Exceed 1 Million
Rear-wheel steering systems are in the midst of a renaissance at the moment after being pioneered by the likes of Honda and Mazda in the 1980s. Rear-wheel steering should prove particularly beneficial for a vehicle as large as the Tesla Cybertruck as it will help to improve maneuverability and could also aid in its off-roading abilities.
Friday afternoons are usually Tesla design studio time. Cybertruck will be almost exactly what was shown. We’re adding rear wheel steering, so it can do tight turns & maneuver with high agility.
Lot of other great things coming.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 3, 2021
The Tesla Cybertruck won’t be the only all-electric pickup truck to feature rear-wheel steering. The GMC Hummer EV also has the ability to steer the rear wheels, allowing the automaker to develop an intriguing ‘crab walk’ feature. Similarly, the Rivian R1T will be able to use its four electric motors to perform tight turns.
According to reports, Tesla has secured over 1 million reservations for the Cybertruck since its unveiling in November 2019 but it remains to be seen how many of these will translate into firm orders. Whatever the number, there’s no doubt that competitors will have their work cut out for them in rivaling the Cybertruck.
