MC&T Staff 
Christmas was ruined this year thanks to the poor example being set by lifestyle brand, Tesla. Long known for playing loosey-goosey with deadlines, production timelines, and product releases, fans of the brand have been denied the chance to get their hands on a new Tesla Cybertruck this year. Although, truthfully, this time it really has nothing to do with Tesla.
Hot Wheels manufacturer Mattel Inc. was forced to tell customers that toy scale versions of Tesla’s first pickup truck faced “unexpected challenges” that resulted in the brand missing its mid-December shipping target. It was pretty late in the game when the announcement was made, meaning the Tesla Cybertruck was absent under the tree this Christmas season, likely disappointing parents and children alike.
According to Bloomberg, the radio-controlled Tesla trucks won’t ship for another five months. “Due to an unforeseen production issue, we are experiencing delays in the shipment of our Hot Wheels R/C Cybertrucks,” Mattel said in a statement Thursday. “We are diligently working to ensure these products arrive by May 1, 2021.”
The famous toymaker offered two limited editions back in February; a 3-inch model for $20 and a larger 1:10 scale version for $400 – both of which are now sold out. The issue was described as an isolated problem affecting the “specialty collector’s” miniature models which are easily distinguishable from mass-market products.
Tesla Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk first unveiled the Cybertruck in November 2019 during one of the brand’s many viral events. During the debut, one of the prototype’s “unbreakable” windows was smashed. As a call back to that mishap, the 1:10 scale version of the Tesla Cybertruck toy includes a “reusable cracked-window vinyl sticker.
Production of the real Cybertruck is planned to spool up late next year, with the earliest models not being expected in customer’s hands until the early stages of 2022. Tesla is currently working to finish construction at a new facility in Austin, Texas before assembly can begin.
EV fans will be looking forward fervently to the much-expected electrified showdown between the Tesla Cybertruck and the recently debuted GMC Hummer EV.
– By Michael Accardi
