Tesla, breaking news! Musk makes a statement

Tesla Cybertruck autonomous electric vehicle production begins earlier than originally planned!

On February 18, a reporter from Securities Times learned from Tesla China that the first mass-produced Tesla Cybertruck autonomous electric vehicle has rolled off the line at the Texas Gigafactory in the United States. Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced, “Congratulations to the Tesla team for successfully manufacturing the first mass-produced Cybertruck.”

The Cybertruck autonomous electric vehicle is a model designed specifically for autonomous driving, with no steering wheel or foot pedals. Previously, Musk had repeatedly indicated that the Cybertruck would enter production in April 2026. Currently, it appears that the production start has been moved up ahead of the original schedule.

The Cybertruck aims to optimize the cost per mile over its entire lifecycle and achieve utilization rates five times higher than passenger cars (about 50–60 hours of use per week). At the 8th China International Import Expo held last November, Tesla’s autonomous electric vehicle Cybertruck made its Asia-Pacific debut. Tesla staff at the time revealed that the Cybertruck is equipped with wireless charging technology and robotic arm automatic cleaning functions, fully prepared for large-scale deployment.

Tesla previously disclosed that the production growth of the Cybertruck will follow an S-curve, with long-term production goals far exceeding the total of all other Tesla models.

On February 18, the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) also announced that, following Tesla’s rectification of marketing statements regarding autonomous driving features, the 30-day sales ban on the brand has been officially lifted. This means Tesla has achieved compliance by adjusting user notifications without changing the technical terminology.

This controversy originated from the DMV’s questioning of Tesla’s naming of the “Autopilot” and “Full Self-Driving” features. The agency believed that such terms could mislead consumers into thinking the vehicles are fully autonomous, when in fact they still require human supervision. In December last year, the agency ruled that Tesla engaged in misleading advertising and recommended a sales ban, but granted a 90-day rectification period.

Recent regulatory documents show that Tesla has clarified the driver’s responsibility to stay fully attentive by updating vehicle manuals, increasing system prompt frequency, and optimizing disclaimers during sales processes.

With the ban lifted, Tesla’s sales network in California will fully resume normal operations. The DMV also stated it will continue to monitor Tesla’s marketing practices and require the company to submit regular compliance reports. This outcome may serve as a reference for regulatory practices in other regions.