The durability of Tesla’s Cybertruck was put to a unique test. Elon Musk joined Joe Rogan’s podcast this week for a fourth time, where the Tesla and SpaceX CEO once again claimed the futuristic truck was bulletproof.
Rogan was eager to put that theory to the test, saying he was curious to test the truck’s durability against a crossbow arrow. And this is how Musk and Rogan’s unconventional $1 betting game began.
The ‘impenetrable’ Cybertruck
Confident in the Cybertruck’s design, Musk wagered a dollar that Rogan’s crossbow would not penetrate the shell. The pair promptly interrupted the podcast recording to carry out the test, Rogan armed with a 36 kilogram (80 pound) crossbow.
It should be noted that Tesla describes the Cybertruck’s stainless steel body as “a nearly impenetrable exoskeleton” consisting of steel panels and armored windows. Musk says the truck could withstand an attack from various weapons.
He claims to have “emptied a Tommy gun into the side of the car” without piercing it. The Tesla team also fired a shotgun at it along with a 45 and a 9mm. “No penetrations”, Musk boasts.
Cybertruck’s movie-inspiration
Needless to say, Rogan lost the $1 bet since the Cybertruck’s exoskeleton was damaged but not pierced, as can be seen in the video below.
Rogan wanted to know why the truck was designed to be bulletproof. Musk explains: “Well, I mean, you know, trucks are supposed to be tough, right.”
“If you shoot a gun through a regular truck, it’ll go through both doors. You can’t hide behind a car door like they do in the movies. That doesn’t work – but it does in the Cybertruck,” he says.
This wasn’t the first time Tesla showed the truck’s durability during a live demonstration. When the vehicle was unveiled in 2019, a metal ball was thrown at the Cybertruck’s windows. Disaster ensued and the glass shattered, in front of a live audience.
The more recent interaction between Musk and Rogan not only served as entertainment but also highlighted the evolving standards in vehicle durability, especially relevant to the fleet, freight, and logistics sectors.
The road ahead
As quirky as the test was, it underscores how innovation could redefine expectations. Electric vehicles like the Cybertruck continue to push the boundaries of what vehicles are capable of, nudging the industry towards embracing technological advancements for more resilient fleets.
Tesla revealed during its 2023 Q3 Quarterly Update that Cybertruck deliveries will kick off from the end of November. Musk estimates Tesla will produce approximately 250,000 Cybertrucks a year by 2024.
Musk also underscored the difficulty in ramping up the production of such a unique vehicle, stating it’s an endeavor to not just invent the car, but the way to manufacture it.
If Tesla were to go with a copycat vehicle design, “of which there are literally 200 models that are slight variations […], then it’s really not that hard,” he says. However, he wanted “something radical and innovative and something really special, like the Cybertruck,” which is a lot harder to copy.
About the author
Cheryl has contributed to various international publications, with a fervor for data and technology. She explores the intersection of emerging tech trends with logistics, focusing on how digital innovations are reshaping industries on a global scale. When she's not dissecting the latest developments in AI-driven innovation and digital solutions, Cheryl can be found gaming, kickboxing, or navigating the novel niches of consumer gadgetry.
