Tesla has quietly made another change to the Cybertruck, replacing aluminum underbody panels with a new composite material that the company says is lighter, more durable, cheaper, and even provides a small efficiency improvement.
The change was spotted by Coleton Guerin of Out of Spec Detailing while working on a new Cyberbeast. Guerin noticed what looked like carbon fiber trays at both the front and rear of the truck, positioned beneath the drive units, and asked when Tesla had made the switch.
Cybertruck lead engineer Wes Morrill confirmed the change, but stopped short of confirming it was carbon fiber, instead saying it was a “new material” and the result of Tesla’s testing rather than simply a cosmetic or manufacturing change.
good eye – it's a new material. Testing showed it to be more durable than the aluminum while being lower weight and cost. Also slight efficiency improvement since we can better form the areas around the bolts to keep the underbody airflow cleaner than what stamped aluminum allows
— Wes (@wmorrill3) July 30, 2026
According to Morrill, there are several advantages of using a composite material instead of aluminum. Along with being lighter and less expensive, the new material gives Tesla more flexibility when shaping the panels. According to Morrill, that allows engineers to better form the areas surrounding bolts and other mounting points, creating a smoother underside and reducing disturbances to airflow.
The resulting aerodynamic improvement is apparently small, but even minor efficiency gains can be useful on a large, heavy vehicle like the Cybertruck.
Exactly when Tesla introduced the updated panels isn’t clear. However, owners have reported finding them on Cybertrucks built as early as April 2026.
This is just the latest exmaple of Tesla striving for continuous improvement. The automaker regularly introduces production changes without waiting for a new model year, and the Cybertruck has received numerous small revisions since deliveries began. While carbon fiber underbody panels aren’t something most owners will ever see, this particular update appears to deliver improvements in several areas without adding cost or weight.
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