Tesla’s Potential Large Passenger Vehicle Platform: A Unified Future for Model S, Model X, and Cybertruck
Tesla’s Cybertruck has a bold appearance that's unlike pickups of yore. Cybertruck's boldness continues under the surface as well. Traditionally, vehicles use miles of wire to connect everything to a Controller Area Network (CAN) bus. Cybertruck scraps that and opts for a faster network, which they call Etherloop. This uses about 68% less wiring. Munro & Associates) reports ~73% overall wiring weight reduction in Cybertruck compared to prior Tesla architectures.
Similarly, Cybertruck uses a 48-volt auxiliary power system. This offers significant advantages, including improved efficiency and reduced weight by using thinner wiring. The higher voltage supports more powerful electrical systems, such as enhanced lighting and infotainment, while reducing the need for multiple low-voltage batteries. It also simplifies steer-by-wire.
These innovations cannot stay exclusive to the Cybertruck. They must proliferate throughout Tesla's vehicle lineup. The fastest way forward for this proliferation would be the bold step of unifying the Model S, Model X, and Cybertruck on a shared platform based on the Cybertruck’s architecture. This would create Tesla's new large passenger vehicle platform. It would streamline production for these vehicles, reduce costs, and bring cutting-edge technology to Tesla’s flagship models.
We'll explore the advantages, implications, manufacturing location, and timeline for such a platform and redesign, along with the potential for features like four-wheel steering to enhance the Model X.
Advantages of a Shared Platform
A unified platform would allow Tesla to standardize components across the Model S, Model X, and Cybertruck. Shared parts could lower production costs through economies of scale, as Tesla would purchase components in bulk. Manufacturing would become more efficient, with simplified assembly lines and reduced setup times. The Cybertruck’s 48-volt architecture, steer-by-wire, and Ethernet-based wiring system would modernize the Model S and Model X, which currently lack these features. Additionally, steer-by-wire tech would enable right-hand drive variants, which Tesla discontinued for Model S and X in 2023. This would reopen the UK and Australian markets to the S and X.
A shared platform for Model S, Model X, and Cybertruck means shared components and architecture. It does not mean a similar exterior design for all three. The Model S and Model X would not adopt the Cybertruck’s angular stainless steel exterior. The Model S and Model X would utilize the Cybertruck’s 48-volt system and steer-by-wire technology, rather than its aesthetics. Their sleek, curved designs would be preserved.
Implications and Manufacturing Locations
A shared platform could reshape Tesla’s production strategy. Currently, Model S and Model X are built at the Fremont factory in California, while the Cybertruck is produced at Gigafactory Texas in Austin. A unified platform would likely lead to consolidated production at Gigafactory Texas. A shared platform would also support adding four-wheel steering to the Model X, complementing its falcon-wing doors, making the X even cooler.
Shared Production Line
A shared platform would allow Model S, Model X, and Cybertruck to share a production line. A typical production line produces 100,000 to 250,000 vehicles annually, depending on automation and model complexity. The vehicle mix on a shared production line could be adjusted based on demand, enabling flexibility for Tesla to optimize and respond to market shifts for these three relatively low-volume vehicles.
Timeline for Redesign
The Model S and Model X received major refreshes in 2021, with minor updates in June 2025, adding features like a front bumper camera and improved interiors. Tesla’s typical refresh cycle spans 5-7 years, so a major redesign in 2026 fits this pattern. A major platform overhaul that brings all of Tesla's latest and greatest tech to their flagship vehicles would be exciting.
Manufacturing and Feature Summary
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Current Manufacturing Location |
Model S/X: Fremont, CA; Cybertruck: Austin, TX |
| Potential Manufacturing | Likely Gigafactory Texas on shared platform |
| Last Major Refresh | S/X 2021 (interior, powertrain updates) |
| June 2025 S/X Update | Front bumper camera, new wheels, enhanced interiors, new paint colors |
| Proposed Features | 48V architecture (all), steer-by-wire(all), four-wheel steering (CT and new for Model X) |
| Right-hand Drive Variants | Currently unavailable for S/X; possible with new platform; (Re)opens regions |
| Redesign Timeline | Speculatively Sept 2026 |
Conclusion
A large passenger vehicle platform based on the Cybertruck could transform Tesla’s Model S, Model X, and Cybertruck production by reducing costs, unifying technology and production lines, while enabling right-hand drive variants. Manufacturing would shift to Gigafactory Texas. The refresh cycle history hints at 2026 as the year this redesign could happen. Adding a four-wheel steering option to Model X would elevate its appeal, making it a standout in Tesla’s lineup.
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