It looks like a low-resolution video game asset that somehow clipped into the real world. Honestly, when the Cybertruck first rolled out, half the internet thought it was a prank. But here we are in 2026, and these silver wedges are everywhere. You've probably stared at one in a parking lot and wondered: What is the Cybertruck made of, really? Is it just a bunch of kitchen appliances welded together? Not exactly.
The materials list for this thing reads more like a SpaceX manifest than a Ford brochure. It’s a weird, aggressive mix of proprietary alloys, "transparent metal," and a battery chemistry that’s still making engineers sweat. If you’re looking for the breakdown of what's actually under that unpainted skin, let's get into the weeds.
The "Ultra-Hard" Stainless Steel Skin
The most obvious part is the exterior. Most cars use thin sheets of steel or aluminum—usually around 0.7mm to 1mm thick—which are then stamped into curvy, aerodynamic shapes. Tesla threw that playbook in the trash.
The Cybertruck uses Ultra-Hard 30X Cold-Rolled Stainless Steel.
This isn't your fridge's stainless steel. It’s a 300-series alloy (specifically a modified 301) that is cold-rolled to increase its strength. Basically, they take the metal and squeeze it through rollers at room temperature until the internal structure of the atoms changes, making it incredibly dense and hard.
- Thickness: It’s roughly 3mm thick. That is massive for a car body.
- The "Exoskeleton" Concept: Tesla calls it an exoskeleton, meaning the "skin" of the truck is supposed to handle the structural load. In reality, it’s a bit of a hybrid unibody, but those thick steel panels are way more structural than the flimsy fenders on a Chevy Silverado.
- The Problem with Curves: You can’t stamp this stuff. If you put a 3mm sheet of 30X steel into a traditional stamping press, you’d probably break the press before the steel bent. That’s why the truck is all flat planes and sharp angles. They have to use a process called "air bending" with CNC machines to get those creases.
Because there's no paint, the material has to be corrosion-resistant on its own. It relies on a high chromium content to form a passive oxide layer. That's why it doesn't rust (usually—we'll talk about the "rail dust" spots in a second).
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What’s the "Armor Glass" Actually Made Of?
We all remember the 2019 window-smashing incident. It was awkward. But the production version of "Tesla Armor Glass" is actually a pretty sophisticated sandwich of materials.
According to Tesla’s patents, this isn't just "strong glass." It’s a multi-layer stack. The outer layer—the one facing the world—is made of borosilicate. If that sounds familiar, it’s because it’s the same stuff used in high-end lab equipment and old-school Pyrex.
Borosilicate is great because it handles "thermal shock" (fast temperature changes) way better than the standard soda-lime glass in most cars. Behind that outer layer is a flexible polymer interlayer (the "glue" that holds it together) and then an inner layer of chemically strengthened glass.
The goal isn't just to stop a sledgehammer; it's to prevent "pitting." Most windshields get tiny chips from sand and gravel over time. This borosilicate stack is designed to be hard enough that those tiny rocks just bounce off without leaving a mark. It’s not "bulletproof" in the way a presidential limo is, but it's significantly tougher than a standard windshield.
The Massive Aluminum Castings
While the outside is steel, the "bones" of the truck rely on Giga-Castings.
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Tesla uses some of the world’s largest casting machines to create the front and rear underbody structures as single, massive pieces of aluminum. Instead of welding 100 different stamped steel parts together, they just pour molten aluminum into a giant mold.
- Front Casting: Holds the front suspension and motor mounts.
- Rear Casting: Forms the base of the truck bed and rear power unit.
- The Alloy: It’s a proprietary aluminum alloy that doesn't require "heat treating" after it’s cast. This is a big deal in manufacturing because heat treating large parts usually makes them warp.
Inside the Battery: The 4680 Cells
If you ripped open the floor of a Cybertruck, you wouldn't find a gas tank. You'd find 1,344 cylindrical batteries known as 4680 cells.
The "4680" just refers to the size: 46mm wide and 80mm tall. But it's what’s inside the can that matters. These are "Gen 2" cells. Tesla has been moving toward a high-nickel, cobalt-free cathode.
Cobalt is expensive, hard to mine, and ethically messy. By leaning into nickel and manganese, Tesla gets more energy density for less money. They also use a "tabless" design. Instead of one little wire connecting the guts of the battery to the cap, the entire edge of the internal foil is laser-welded. This lets electricity flow more easily, which means the truck can charge faster without melting the battery.
The battery pack itself is a "structural" member. It’s not just sitting in the truck; it’s actually bolted in so tightly that it helps keep the whole vehicle from twisting.
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The Interior: Vegan Leather and... Marble?
Inside, the Cybertruck is surprisingly sparse. It feels like a minimal studio apartment.
- Seats: These are upholstered in "Tesla Synthetic Leather." It’s basically a high-grade polyurethane. It’s 100% vegan, very stain-resistant, and surprisingly durable.
- Dashboard: On the early versions, there was a dash that looked like white marble. It’s actually a "paper-based composite." Think of it like a incredibly dense, recycled paper board that’s been compressed and polished until it feels like stone.
- Acoustic Glass: All the windows are double-paned with an acoustic interlayer to keep the cabin quiet, which is necessary because you don't have an engine to drown out the wind noise.
What Most People Get Wrong
People see the "30X" label and think it’s invulnerable. It’s not.
One of the biggest misconceptions is that the truck is "rust-proof." While the stainless steel is highly resistant, it can still get "orange spots." This is usually just iron particles from train tracks or factories (rail dust) landing on the surface and rusting on top of the steel. You can usually wipe it off with a clay bar or some Bar Keepers Friend.
Another myth? That it’s a "tank." It’s a very heavy truck—around 6,600 to 6,900 lbs—but it still has crumple zones. The internal structures are designed to buckle in a specific way during a crash to protect the passengers, even if the outer skin remains relatively intact.
Actionable Insights for Owners and Buyers
If you’re looking at a Cybertruck, the materials change how you have to treat it. Here is the "expert" advice on dealing with this weird mix of metals and glass:
- Skip the Paint, Get a Wrap: Since there's no paint, you don't have to worry about "swirl marks." However, if you hate the fingerprint-magnet nature of stainless steel, a clear or colored PPF (Paint Protection Film) is basically mandatory.
- Watch the Edges: Because the steel is so thick and the panels aren't "hemmed" (folded over) like normal cars, the edges can be sharp. Be careful when reaching into the frunk or closing the doors.
- Clean the Glass with Care: Even though it's "Armor Glass," the borosilicate layer can still be scratched by certain abrasive cleaners. Use a high-quality microfiber and standard automotive glass cleaner.
- Tire Check: Because of the insane weight and torque from the motors, this truck eats tires. The specific rubber compound used on the OEM Cybertruck tires is designed for the weight, so don't just swap them for the cheapest off-road tires you find at the shop.
The Cybertruck is a rolling science experiment. From the cold-rolled exoskeleton to the tabless 4680 cells, it’s less about being a "truck" and more about proving that you can build a vehicle using the same materials we use to send people to Mars.