Austin, we have a problem! Tesla descends into battery hell

Tesla's new Cybertruck is shown on display at a Tesla store in San Diego, California, U.S., December 9, 2023. REUTERS/Mike Blake

AUSTIN, Texas (Reuters) - Elon Musk says prototypes are easy, production is hell. And when it comes to the long-awaited Cybertruck, Tesla's hell is its pioneering 4680 battery.

Tesla delivered the first of its futuristic stainless steel-plated electric pickups last month and CEO Musk said in October that it would probably hit an annual production rate of a quarter of a million vehicles at some point during 2025.