In an era where blue Subaru Outbacks once dominated suburban roads, drives, boulevards and what have you, Tesla’s Cybertruck has emerged as a peculiar anomaly in the automotive industry. As if the 2020s could not bring enough chaos and uncertainty, Tesla unveiled its latest “masterpiece”: the Cybertruck, released in 2023. A vehicle so bizarrely angular and unapologetically unconventional design has left many wondering if the world has glimpsed the future of transportation or simply witnessed, as the New York Times put it: a piece of life size origami.
The world is constantly at a scramble to keep up with consumers while trying in vain to not worsen the state of the climate. On a more positive note, electric vehicles (EVs) have surged in popularity, with nearly one in five cars sold globally in 2023 being electric. According to the International Energy Agency, electric car sales grew by almost 25% in 2024 with a little over 27,000 Cybertrucks being sold within that pool. With its stainless steel exoskeleton, the Cybertruck looks more like a metal box on wheels than a traditional pickup truck. The weight of the Cybertruck (6,898 lbs) is three times the weight of an average Ford pick up truck. Starting at $79,990, the Cybertruck is an all wheel drive, almost 6 feet tall and about 6.2 feet in length. Despite Cybertruck’s glamorous marketing and reputation, customer reviews shed light on the rather unfortunate truth of its shortcomings.
A report from last year wrote an unapologetic review stating that the suspension is “stiff and does not take bumps or potholes well.” Furthermore, customers hate how small the rounded octagon shape its steering “wheel.” This causes an awkward feeling when driving. Rather than having headlights stacked on either corner of the bumper, the Cybertruck has a singular LED strip across the hood for headlights. The headlight is “not powerful enough and too low to the ground.” The windshield and wipers, “unable to clean the windshield adequately!” The visibility according to customers ranges from horrible to okay. Customers state that it is impossible to see the front corners adequate for safety and the rearview camera display is miniscule – a notion that is not so ideal when driving, not to mention dangerous! The efficiency of the Cybertruck has been called into question due its performance in real-world conditions. According to Car & Driver, the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) estimates 320 miles for the Beast Model, however, actual highway tests at 75 mph yield about 250 miles of range. The Cybertruck consumes 45.1 kWh per 100 miles, significantly less efficient than its competitors such as the Ford F-150 (Lightning) and the Rivian R1T. Charging times and rates also present challenges, with a 20%-80% charge taking about 40 minutes at a Supercharger. However, as stated by InsideEVs, the charging rate quickly drops from 250kW to below 100kW as the battery fills, significantly extending charging times at public stations. Cost-wise, the Cybertruck runs $17.50 to $22.50 per 100 miles depending on electricity costs, compared to $10.42 to $18.75 costs with other EVs. Despite the Cybertruck being fully electric, its bulky figure and arguably excessive weight makes one think about Newton’s damn apples. In the words of Newton, “the force on an object is equal to its mass times its acceleration”.
Not only does the Cybertruck have a trunk-full of complaints, but the controversies surrounding Elon Musk, Tesla’s enigmatic CEO, have added another layer of complexity to the company’s public image. Harvard Law’s business ethics professor highlights a growing concern regarding the prioritization of short-term gains over sustainability and ethics in the tech industry. Musk’s actions at Twitter, which led to a 40% revenue loss and an 83% reduction in Tesla’s workforce within just four months, demonstrate the potential ripple effects of controversial leadership. EthicalConsumer.org ranked Tesla poorly in the 2020 Corporate Human Rights Benchmark, placing the company in the bottom 0-10% rating. Safety concerns about Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) software have been raised by experts like Dan O’Dowd, with the Dawn Project finding significant flaws in the system’s ability to safely navigate basic traffic scenarios, undoubtedly leading to safety concerns.
In spite of this all, the Cybertruck continues to captivate public attention with its loud design. Its unconventional aesthetic has elicited reactions ranging from disgust to admiration. Whether viewed as an eyesore or a masterpiece, the Cybertruck undeniably represents a bold step into uncharted territory for vehicle design and functionality. As we watch this metal box roll onto our streets, we’re left to ponder the future of automotive innovation. For better or for worse, innovations and graphic creativity are subjective to me, you, and the next person and so forth. However, it is undeniably startling to see a perfectly normal-looking car cruising along the road one day and then all of a sudden see what looks like a giant metal box on wheels come clanking toward you.
