Tesla may be working on a smaller pick-up

Tesla would appear to be working on a ‘compact’ electric pick-up. The Cybertruck is just too big for many places outside of America and the Middle East. The company wants to offer a truck that is more at home in cities and works in other countries. 

Design studio director Lars Moravy revealed the news at a recent event in San Mateo. He said Tesla designers in Hawthorne have started working on the new ute. The language he used suggests that this may be a fresh design, rather than just a matter of shrinking the existing Cybertruck.

It all makes sense too. A smaller pick-up would work in Europe and Asia, where roads are narrower and cars must meet size rules. City drivers appreciate ease of parking and tight turn arounds. A compact pick-up would deliver both.

The concept of a compact pick-up means it would find varying uses for families, fleets, tradies and possibly even robotaxi duties. 

Tesla has shown early sketches of compact pick-ups before. However, there are no images available as yet, not even of mock-ups.

But Tesla is now talking about using its next car platform for the ute’s underpinnings. That architecture supports faster, less expensive production. 

The pick-up could serve both personal and business needs. Moravy talked about moving “people and goods,” so the design may help with city deliveries and regular family driving.

A smaller pick-up would let Tesla reach more buyers, including those who don’t want or need a big vehicle. Starting with a clean sheet design would also help meet European safety rules, and speed up approval. Ford and Chevrolet are both developing their own compact electric pick-ups so Telsa’s offering certainly wouldn’t be a lone wolf.

Teslas usually take three years to develop from reveal to mass sales. A debut around 2027 would be likely then for a compact pick-up if work has already begun.

Tesla has had a tough first half of 2025, selling just 10,712 Cybertrucks in the US. Its Q2 sales of Cybertruck were down by 50.8 per cent. In many countries it would not only have been too big but also would have needed a frontal redesign to pass pedestrian impact tests. 

Tesla Australia is evidently considering a Cybertruck launch, importing a converted example to show interested customers. Evidently it also has a handle what would be needed for the vehicle to meet ADRs.

After conversion, the Cybertruck would cost around $A140,000, which is roughly the same as what a full-size petrol-powered ute from the US sells for in Australia and New Zealand.

FYI, the 3.1-tonne Cybertruck is 5682mm long, 2201mm wide and 1791mm tall, similar to an F-150. Its payload is a stated 1134kg while claimed towing capability is nearly 5000kg. Quoted range is up to 547km.