Tesla’s Cybertruck and Ford’s F-150 to Battle It Out

Tesla (TSLA) recently unveiled its Cybertruck. In a pinned tweet, CEO Elon Musk said that the Cybertruck was better than Ford’s (F) F-150. He also posted a video showing Tesla’s Cybertruck towing an F-150. Ford now wants Tesla to put its money where its mouth is.

Tesla’s recent unveiling of its Cybertruck was characterized by Musk’s botched attempt to show that its window was shatterproof. The model’s shape also didn’t impress, with many seeing it as a niche product. Later, though, Musk said that the Cybertruck had received 200,000 orders.

TSLA fell on November 22 after the Cybertruck’s unveiling failed to enthuse markets, but it rose yesterday—likely as markets gave its surging orders a thumbs-up. On that note, some caution is warranted. Firstly, these are preorders, and secondly, the company still needs to produce and sell these vehicles at a profit to silence critics. Read Can Tesla’s Surging Cybertruck Orders Lift Its Stock? for more analysis.

Currently, Ford dominates the US pickup truck market with its F-150 model. A few years ago, Ford converted the model’s body from steel to aluminum. Although it was a risky exercise, the F-150 continued its strong run after conversion to the aluminum body.

Now, Ford is launching an all-electric version of the F-150. Earlier this year, the company released a video of the prototype. The model will compete with Tesla’s Cybertruck. Ford has upped its game in the electric vehicle market. Its Mach-E will compete against Tesla’s Model 3 and Model Y. Read Can Ford’s Mustang Mach-E Be the Tesla Model Y Killer? to learn more.

In a pinned tweet, Musk called the Cybertruck “better” than the Ford F-150 and “faster” than the Porsche 911. He also posted a video that showed the Cybertruck pulling an F-150 uphill. It’s worth noting that towing capacity is among the most important qualities potential buyers look for in pickup trucks.

This isn’t the first time Musk has mocked an established automaker. Apparently, slamming gasoline cars is Musk’s favorite pastime. He has, at times, taken potshots at new electric vehicles too. Earlier this year, he mocked the Porsche Taycan.

Ford hasn’t taken Musk’s unfavorable comparison between the F-150 and the Cybertruck lightly. Sundeep Madra, a senior Ford executive, tweeted at Musk, “hey @elonmusk send us a cybertruck and we will do the apples to apples test for you.” Musk agreed and replied, “Bring it on.”

Musk isn’t exactly known for his humility. However, this time, he’s hit Ford where it matters most. The F-150 is among the major contributors to Ford’s profitability. While sedan sales have been falling in the US market, SUV and pickup sales have been relatively strong.

The question now is whether Musk made an unfavorable comparison between Tesla’s Cybertruck and Ford’s F-150. In other words, was it an apples-to-apples comparison or not? According to CNBC, astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson isn’t convinced of the legitimacy of Tesla’s claims.

It’ll be interesting to watch the battle play out between the US’s best-selling pickup truck and the next-gen Tesla Cybertruck. Say tuned. In the meantime, check out Can Ford’s Electric F-150 Take on Tesla and Musk? for more information.