Enlarge / It will probably be a while before you see these on the road, but some Tesla stores now have display Cybertrucks. (credit: Jonathan Gitlin)

On Thursday afternoon, Tesla delivered the first 10 production Cybertrucks to customers at an event livestreamed on X, Tesla CEO Elon Musk's social media network. A demo video featured shots of the Cybertruck negotiating barren wildernesses, including one that was meant to look like Mars. Musk, who has mostly made headlines in recent weeks for endorsing virulent antisemtitic theories on his social media platform , took to the stage almost half an hour late, initially delivering his presentation from the back of a truck with his face hidden in shadow.

Musk claimed the Cybertruck is better than any other truck but also more of a sports car than any other sports car, made of a "special Tesla designed steel alloy" that he claimed will never rust and which cannot be stamped but which can also be produced in volume.

Mindful of the window-breaking debacle during the truck's debut in 2019 , Tesla designer Franz von Holzhausen came on stage to throw baseballs at its windows. Unlike last time (when presenters used metal balls), the allegedly bulletproof glass did not shatter. Musk made a point of the fact that in a crash with another vehicle, the Cybertruck—which weighs 6,603–6,843 lbs (2,995–3,104 kg)—will destroy the other vehicle.

Enlarge (credit: Jacqui VanLiew; Getty Images)

In November 2019, Tesla CEO Elon Musk stepped onto a stage in California to launch a new kind of EV: the Cybertruck, an angular cyberpunk-styled pickup with bodywork made of brushed stainless steel and “unbreakable” glass. What happened next has entered into public relations folklore. Under the glare of the cameras, the demo truck’s windows smashed not once, but twice during a demonstration of their strength. Musk first swore, then joked: “There’s room for improvement.” That off-the-cuff remark could have been a fitting mantra for the entire project.

Not that this faltering start has deterred Tesla’s devoted fans, of course. Since then, an estimated 1.8 million customers have put down their $100 deposits to reserve a Cybertruck. The vehicle was supposed to start rolling off production lines in 2021. But two years on, the trucks still haven’t been delivered, and for most customers, they won’t be until 2024 at the earliest.

Enlarge (credit: Aurich Lawson / Getty / Tesla )

Customers who were hoping to put a radio-controlled Hot Wheels Cybertruck under the Christmas tree will be disappointed this holiday season. Mattel has begun telling customers that the hotly anticipated toy won't ship in time for Christmas due to "unexpected challenges," according to Bloomberg . Mattel is now aiming to ship them by May 1.

Mattel unveiled the toy in February, offering two versions: a 1/64 scale model for $20 and a 1/10 scale model for $400. The larger model, which is slated to have working headlights and taillights, sold out within hours. The smaller model is now sold out as well.

This will be a familiar story for many customers who have preordered Tesla's full-sized vehicles. The Model S and Model X both shipped long after their original launch dates. The Model 3 shipped in 2017 as originally promised but did not reach significant volume until 2018.

Read 4 remaining paragraphs | Comments