Tesla has shown off the first accessory for the Cybertruck at the groundbreaking event for the company’s new lithium refinery in Texas. A custom-made tool rack was shown off when CEO Elon Musk arrived at the event in style by driving the Cybertruck on stage, but it was made specifically for today’s event and may not make it into production.
During the most recent public appearance of the Cybertruck at Investor Day, it was revealed by an employee that Tesla had its own in-house team designing and developing Cybertruck accessories, when asked if the company was working with any third-party accessory makers, in particular for accessories that work with the truck’s 48V architecture like winches and off-road lights.
One of the most obvious accessories is something that adds utility to the Cybertruck, and today Tesla showed what is possible with the Cybertruck for those that will use it for its intended purposes, as a work truck. In the case of today’s Cybertruck, the tool rack was used to carry two shovels that CEO Elon Musk and Texas Governor Greg Abbott used during the event. The shovels were attached to the rack at two separate points, and secured with some kind of locking mechanism, although based on how Musk removed the shovels, they weren’t really locked and anyone could have removed them.
Not only does the rack provide space to store tools, it also gives the Cybertruck a long flat roof allowing it to serve as a roof rack as well. (see second photo below)
Many where hoping this was the first glimpse of the first official Cybertruck accessory, but Drew Baglino, Tesla’s SVP, Powertrain and Energy Engineering confirmed in an interview with Ellie in Space that it was custom-made for today’s event, adding “I don’t know” when asked it was going to be made for all Cybertruck customers.
Not wanting to disappoint, Baglino did however confirm that Tesla is making lots of accessories for the Cybertruck, but declined to provide details on what those could be.
You can watch the groundbreaking event and see the Cybertruck in the video below.
Tesla Lithium Groundbreaking Ceremony https://t.co/0MCiZvQLHl
— Tesla (@Tesla) May 8, 2023