Tesla owners have to accept that they are equated with the hatred that certain groups have for society. A drive in a Cybertruck triggered the fuck finger a whopping 17 times.
Saahil Desai from The Atlantic tested reactions to the Tesla Cybertruck in Washington, D.C. The experience with Elon Musk's electric car was marked by anger and mockery.
Saahil Desai got an unpleasant surprise behind the wheel. He received the fuck finger 17 times in a single day. The experience took place in Washington DC
Desai, an editor at the prestigious magazine The Atlantic , rented a Tesla Cybertruck to conduct a social experiment. The goal was to observe people's reactions to the distinctive electric vehicle.
It was the first Sunday of spring in the American capital. Desai strolled leisurely through the city, passing sidewalk cafes filled with people.
Soon people started throwing angry looks at the car. The editor overheard women discussing the possibility of throwing eggs at the vehicle. One woman directly told him that he should be ashamed of himself.
Saahil Desai was surprised by the strong emotions the car evoked. One woman held up her middle finger for 20 seconds. She did this while continuing a conversation with friends at a restaurant.
Tesla Cybertruck as a political symbol
Later, Desai ventured out into the countryside. He visited a local market, the Dupont Circle farmers market. There were many people among the stalls selling organic goods.
When people saw the big, angular electric car, they stopped. The car was met with ridicule and mockery. Desai saw people react violently to the Cybertruck's presence.
The editor believes that the Cybertruck has become a symbol. A symbol of the political unrest and division in the United States. Washington DC is seen as close to the consequences of Donald Trump and Elon Musk's actions.
"The Cybertruck could have made America fall in love with electric cars. But instead, it's doing the opposite," Desai writes in The Atlantic.
He adds: – The rebellion against Tesla is not slowing down.
According to Desai, attacks on Tesla showrooms and infrastructure in the US continue. FBI Director Kash Patel has referred to it as domestic terrorism. At the same time, Desai points out that Tesla's sales figures are falling.
He notes that voters who support Donald Trump are rarely the ones who buy electric cars. The car is seen by some as a symbol of Elon Musk himself.
Reactions to Elon Musk's design
– The Cybertruck is a perfect metaphor for Elon Musk himself, it promises one thing but delivers another, writes Desai, drawing parallels to Musk's other projects such as X (formerly Twitter).
However, there were also a few positive reactions to the car. Some children on balance bikes curiously followed the car to get a closer look. A man with a red handkerchief gave the thumbs up.
But the negative experiences dominated Saahil Desai's day. When he parked the big car in the evening, he was completely exhausted.
– It took a toll on my self-esteem to walk around being hated for a whole day, the editor writes about his experience.
Tesla Cybertruck and Elon Musk often create debate with their designs and announcements. If you want to read more about special car models, new technology or other news from the automotive world, you can find many more articles here on Boosted.dk.
