Tesla did not respond to requests for comment.
Internal dynamics and NVH – noise, vibration and harshness – leaked into the Handelsblatt contains test results that measure the performance of an alpha version of the Cybertruck against projections made using computer-aided design (CAD) simulations and against internal benchmarks. In short, it paints a picture of a leaky, noisy prototype vehicle with poor handling and braking.
“It’s an alpha vehicle, so it’s no surprise that it’s a long way from its goals,” says Andy Palmer, a former Nissan executive and CEO of Aston Martin Lagonda, who has more than 40 years of experience in the automotive industry. Palmer says he was surprised by the honesty of the report. “You’d better screw the engineers who wrote these things. You don’t normally write that down.”
The report notes that the alpha version of the Cybertruck had to be hand-sealed, but that “there are a number of areas where we don’t have a clear path to sealing” in the production version of the vehicle. This is not only a problem for weather protection, but also for cabin noise. Data in the report shows that the alpha version was significantly noisier than engineers predicted based on their design, and that testers identified 21 potential noise leaks in the vehicle’s bodywork.
Tesla cars have a history of leaks, and the report suggests that the Cybertruck’s unusual design may have complicated engineers’ attempts to properly seal it. “
Handling was also a concern for the alpha Cybertruck. The report cites a number of issues, including “excessive mid-speed jerking and chopping”, “high head roll acceleration” and “structural shake”. It said the truck experienced “excessive lateral jerk during low-speed maneuvering” and that steering refinement and body roll issues needed to be addressed. The EV’s strafe mode, a feature that allows the wheels to spin to give the car a sideways “crab walk” had “only basic functionality”.
Braking performance was one of the worst areas in the report. Tesla engineers aimed for a score of 7, or “fair,” on the Society of Automotive Engineers scale, but the alpha version scored only a 4, or “poor.” According to the report, as of January 2022, the Cybertruck’s brake pedal pressure pad was still under construction, so the Alfa experienced “excessive pedal travel and inconsistent stopping” and “excessive lean during friction braking,” cornering braking, as well as electric braking instability. .
“The brake performance looks serious. I’m surprised they don’t go further,” says Palmer, after being briefed on the contents of the report. Usually the chassis, including the braking system, is the first thing engineers work on, ahead of the body and other systems. “So to be only on prototype parts at this stage is quite late.”
