Background

Tesla CEO Elon Musk's ideas for a pickup truck were first stated publicly in 2012 and 2013, envisioning to build a "Tesla supertruck with crazy torque, dynamic air suspension, and corners like it's on rails". In early 2014 Musk predicted 4–5 years before work could start on the product, then in a 2014 interview with CNN, Musk stated that the Tesla pickup would be the equivalent of a Ford F-150. In mid-2016, the outline for a consumer pickup truck was included in part 2 of the Tesla Master Plan. Musk suggested that the same chassis could be used for a van and a pickup truck. In 2017, Musk teased the picture of a "pickup truck that can carry a pickup truck" was displayed at the official reveal for the Tesla Semi and Roadster.