Tesla to recall Cybertruck; Musk delays India trip
NEW YORK: Tesla is recalling 3,878 Cybertruck vehicles because of a defect that can cause unintentional vehicle acceleration, increasing crash risk, according to a US notice posted this week.
AUSTIN: The Tesla logo is displayed at a Tesla dealership in Austin, Texas. - AFP.
Tesla notified the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on April 17 of the condition in which the accelerator pedal may become trapped on the Cybertruck, Elon Musk’s futuristic take on the American pickup truck.
If the accelerator pedal becomes trapped, “the performance and operation of the pedal will be affected, which may increase the risk of a collision,” Tesla said in the notice. Tesla said it was not aware of any collisions or injuries related to the condition. The company will replace or rework the accelerator to address the issue, the company said. Musk has championed the Cybertruck, declaring at a launch event last November that “Finally, the future will look like the future!”
But the vehicle’s use of large flat plates of unbent stainless steel poses challenges in manufacturing. Musk has said it will take time to ramp up production, targeting 2025 as the year when output will reach 250,000 a year. Earlier this week, Tesla announced it would lay off more than 10 percent of its global workforce as it contends with rising competition among electric vehicle producers and slowing demand growth in some markets.
‘Tesla obligations’
Meanwhile, Tech billionaire Elon Musk announced Saturday he was postponing his visit to India, during which the Tesla boss was meant to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and discuss big investment plans. The news came a day after Musk’s electric car company announced the recall of nearly 4,000 Cybertruck vehicles owing to an acceleration pedal defect that increased crash risks. “Unfortunately, very heavy Tesla obligations require that the visit to India be delayed, but I do very much look forward to visiting later this year,” he said in a post on his social media platform X. Media reports had suggested the trip would begin as soon as Sunday and last two days, during which Musk would meet with Modi and aerospace companies.
Tesla was reported to be scouting factory locations in India after the government last month cut import taxes on electric vehicles for global automakers that committed to invest $500 million and to start local production within three years. The policy also allows companies to import up to 8,000 electric vehicles priced at $35,000 or higher every year with greatly reduced import duties. Indian media reported that Tesla might first import cars from its Berlin factory until it makes a final decision on where to set up a production line. Experts say it’s unlikely the Indian market will be an immediate shot in the arm for the company, mostly due to the high price tag of its cars.
Tesla’s cheapest model now is the Model 3 sedan, which retails for around $39,000 in the United States. Musk’s present business interest in India is limited to X, formerly known as Twitter. He has faced questions from free speech activists over his social media platform reportedly caving in to the Indian government’s demands to take down critical posts. Musk, who has described himself as a Modi fan, last visited India in 2007, calling the country “amazing” and saying that the Taj Mahal “truly is a wonder of the world”. — AFP.
