Over the years, Tesla had gained a not so great reputation for paint durability. To protect their purchase and keep the vehicles looking nice, many owners began turning to wraps and paint protection films (PPFs).
The timing was great though as these Tesla owners decided to protect their purchase, wraps in general for vehicles of all kinds exploded in popularity. This led to a ton of color options, local shops that can do installs quickly, and wraps have catapulted themselves in to a fairly standard add-on for car enthusiasts.
(Interested in just jumping to the colors? Click here! But for those interested in what wraps are, how you care for them, and why you'd need one; keep reading!)
What are wraps?
Vehicle wraps are pretty on-the-nose when it comes to their name. They are literally a sheet of material that is used to cover vehicle body panels, often using heat to stick and conform itself to rounded edges and body panels of cars.
The wraps sit on top of the paint, protecting the vehicle's original finish from the elements and road hazards like small rocks. Wraps can be clear, simply offering a small layer of protection while showing off the original paint, or they can come in all kinds of colors or patterns.
The customization-factor is off the charts with wraps. If you can dream it, you can get it done. From solid colors, to custom prints, to even wrapping a car entirely in a company logo; wraps are an easy way to get the look you need.
Wraps are also easily removeable. With care, they can simply be peeled off of the vehicle they are on. It makes wraps great as an option for those who don't want to commit to a look, or who want to replace the film with a new one every few years to keep the car always looking brand new.
Wraps are less permanent, and often less expensive than a good paint job for a car. Overall they make a fantastic modern option for anyone wanting to upgrade the look or protect their vehicle.
PPF wraps vs. vinyl wraps
Something important to know is the difference between a basic vinyl wrap and a "paint protection film" (PPF) wrap.
A vinyl wrap is a thin layer of vinyl that goes on to the car. This is primarily used as a customization option. It allows customers to (relatively) cheaply update the look of their car without committing to paint. While it can somewhat help prevent minor scratches, it's not really meant to truly protect the paint underneath. It can be easily torn through or scratched just like regular paint.
PPF on the other hand, is purpose-built to be tough. This unique material is much thicker than its vinyl wrap counterpart. Paint protection films also often feature something called "self-healing". The material can actually fix itself!
When a good paint protection film gets a nick or scratch, over time it will re-seal itself, almost like a very slow moving liquid. After a day or two, the small scratches will go away, looking like new again!
Why doesn't everyone get PPF instead of a basic vinyl wrap? Well, it's mostly related to cost and experience. A good PPF is much more expensive than a vinyl wrap. While the method is similar, it's harder to work with and can be more difficult to install. This leads to both the material and installation costs being more than a basic vinyl wrap[.
Why would a tough Cybertruck need a wrap?
If a wrap is meant for protection, why would you need one for what is supposedly the toughest vehicle on the planet? There's a few reasons why you might see quite a few colorful Cybertrucks roaming around.
To add some color: The Tesla Cybertruck is meant to be utilitarian. In that effort, Tesla doesn't even put paint on the car from the factory. While the panels are meant to stand-up to every day use and weather without a problem. Painting a vehicle like this would be incredibly expensive, so wraps offer a quick and easy way to put some color on to the truck if that's your preference.
Protection: Sure, stainless steel is tough, but it can still scratch. The good news is, even with scratches these panels won't rust, but some people want their expensive car to stay pristine and would be bothered by small surface scratches. Necessary? No. But a nice to have for people who care about this sort of thing? Definitely.
Customization: One of the fantastic things about wraps is that they can easily be removed and replaced. If owning a Cybertruck isn't unique enough on its own for you, why not have the only Cybertruck that's got zebra stripes!?!? As long as you can afford to replace a wrap with a new one, you could change-up the look of your Cybertruck every week if you wanted and keep your one-of-a-kind look going.
Fingerprint guard: Have you ever looked at a stainless steel refrigerator after a few days of use? The front always seems covered in finger & hand prints. The Cybertruck is no different and a wrap can help avoid oils from people's hands from being seen as much.
Businesses & Advertising: Wraps are often used to make vehicles in to mobile billboards for people who own companies or who want to rent out the space on their car for a small kickback and income. Cybertrucks turn heads like no other and everyone stops to take pictures of this unique truck. Why not pair the free publicity from the Cybertruck design itself with a wrap displaying your business?
Official Tesla Cybertruck PPF wrap colors
At the time of writing this article, Tesla recently expanded from just a few options, all the way to 11 available colors! Below is a list of all the colors, mock-up photos of what the colors look like directly from Tesla, and the price for each PPF wrap.
If they update to even more options in the future, you can be sure we'll continue to keep this post updated with the latest.
Forest Green: $6,500
A color perfectly at home hitting trails in between pine trees.
Satin Rose Gold: $6,500
Reminiscent of champagne, a subtle but striking option.
Satin Abyss Blue: $6,500
One of the personal favorites here at CyberChuck. This unusual, deep blue color makes us want to go ocean exploring (not recommended in the Cybertruck...).
Slip Grey: $6,000
We're curious to see this one in person. On the surface it looks similar to the plain stainless steel, but without the grain of the metal and one solid gray color.
Satin Stealth Black: $6,000
Definitely a front-runner if we ever get a chance to wrap a Cybertruck. The black-on-black monochrome look makes this already imposing truck even more so.
Satin Ceramic White: $6,000
An unusual option but one that is growing on us. Bright white will help any Cybertruck stand out in a crowd of others.
Satin Crimson Red: $6,500
Tesla always nails it with their red colors and this seems to be no exception. Based on the photo, the wrap seems to be not just red, but red with some depth to it depending on the angle you see it from.
Iridescent Purple: $6,500
An unexpected color and probably the most out there and unique one coming direct from Tesla. We've yet to see this in person, but we assume the color shifts as viewed from different angles.
Tactical Green: $6,500
Many equate the Cybertruck to a futuristic military vehicle and this color leans-in to that. Understated but tough looking.
Satin Dark Grey: $6,500
In between the black and gray colors already seen is this satin dark grey. It appears to be a charcoal color and could be a nice option if you like a monochrome but two tone look of the dark grey and black details together.
Copper Tinted Clear: $6,500
Possibly the most unique wrap on the list, but you wouldn't know it at first. While we've not seen this in person, the assumption from the name of the color is that this effectively makes the stainless steel, metal grain and all, show through and look like it's dyed a copper color. A great way to showcase some unique color while still showing off the stainless steel panels.
Which Tesla models can come with in-house PPF?
At the time of writing, Tesla offers wraps as upsells to Model 3, Model Y, and Cybertruck. Their pricing includes installation at a local service center if you'd like to get your current car wrapped, or they can schedule to wrap it on arrival of your new car when you pick up at the Tesla store.
Since wraps are so easily removeable and replaceable, Tesla even allows customers to wrap their leased Tesla vehicles. There are a few stipulations in the lease contract to make sure you care for the wrap or remove it before you return the lease to Tesla, but it's great to know this is an option for anyone wanting to customize the look of their existing Tesla Model 3 or Model Y.
Tesla's official Cybertruck PPF wrap features & warranty
Tesla is sharing the following features and benefits of their in-house PPF. They don't offer a ton of explanation beyond these features however here's the full list:
Self-healing, urethane-based film
2x thicker than vinyl on average
Protects against scratches
More environmentally friendly than traditional vinyl wraps
Covers all exterior stainless-steel surfaces
Of course Tesla won't replace general wear & tear or accidents under warranty, but Tesla's wraps do come with a warranty. There is a built-in one-year or 12,500 mile warranty covering any installation issues. What's even more impressive is that Tesla even offers a ten-year warranty for clear films and a five-year warranty for paint (colored) films if there are any defects in the material itself.
Caring for a Tesla factory PPF wrap
Tesla offers a few care and post-installation tips for their wraps to ensure maintaining the highest quality for the longest amount of time.
Cleaning your Tesla with a PPF wrap will remain much the same as any regular car washing and exterior maintenance. The wraps can be washed just like any other car using the same suds you would use for a regular car's paint. For the detailers out there, the film works just fine with not only wax but also polishing and even clay bars.
On top of all of that, PPF can be ceramic coated to keep the wrap looking like new and preventing debris from sticking as easily.
These wraps are not only able to be run through a normal carwash, but will even perform better than standard auto paint in a car wash. The brushes in carwashes are known for scraping and scratching the surface of automotive paint. If you happen to get these micro scratches with a high-quality PPF on your vehicle, these small scratches are "self-healing" and will go away after a day or so.
Summary: Is a PPF wrap worth it from Tesla?
While the wraps appear to be a relatively expensive, multi-thousand dollar add-on to an already premium vehicle, they appear to be a good quality and offer a lot of protection for your vehicle.
All of that said, it's always a good idea to shop around. Call some local wrap shops and make sure you're asking for PPF and not a basic vinyl wrap to compare to Tesla's offerings. Depending on where you live, you may see similar pricing to what Tesla is offering from the factory.
There is one huge advantage to a local shop over Tesla's factory wraps, even if the pricing is similar. Local wrap shops will also be able to offer you a near infinite list of optional colors if you're going for something unique so you can truly stand out on the road while protecting your Cybertruck.