Photo: @niccruzpatane via X
Last week, all the Cybertrucks awaiting delivery at a Tesla delivery center in Florida were spray-painted with a strong anti-Elon Musk message. Although fans wanted this to become a special edition, Tesla decided to wipe them clean. However, the trucks are still awaiting delivery following a recall to fix a loose sail applique.
Last week, the Tesla community learned about a shocking vandalism act at a Tesla delivery center in Fort Lauderdale. Dozens of Cybertrucks awaiting delivery were spray-painted with a strong message directed at Tesla CEO Elon Musk. This was not the first time the polarizing pickup truck had stirred strong reactions from random individuals. However, it was the first time (that we know) that Elon Musk was at the receiving end of their criticism.
The act has been widely criticized on social media, although not everyone was rattled by the message. Some even suggested that Tesla make the graffitied trucks part of a special edition Cybertruck. However, a recent video from the same parking lot in Fort Lauderdale shows that Tesla employees disagreed. All the pickup trucks have been wiped clean, with their stainless steel armor shining while waiting for customer pickup.
To be fair, considering that the Cybertruck is not pained and the stainless steel body is easy to clean, the paint wouldn't have resisted very long. Most likely, Tesla employees who cleaned the trucks didn't have to work that hard. However, this doesn't mean that Tesla won't release a special "F**ck Elon" decal for those who wish. After all, it did so for the cracked window during the Cybertruck unveiling in 2019. It's also true that, at the time, Elon Musk had a much sharper sense of humor.
Even though the Cybertrucks have benefitted from an additional power wash, this doesn't mean that their designated owners would be able to pick them up. Tesla's electric pickup is subject to two safety recalls and, therefore, cannot be delivered until the issues are fixed. This has angered some people more than the spray-painted message. That is understandable, considering that they have been waiting for the Cybertruck for a long time.
One of the problems was caused by the Cybertruck's gigawiper, a 62-inch (157-cm) metal arm that puts an enormous strain on the wiper motor. This caused it to fail prematurely, so Tesla took some time to develop a better motor that could last longer in the rain. The second recall was prompted by a piece of trim from the truck's sail, which could become loose and pose a danger to other road users if it detaches.
Both issues seem minor to some people, especially those waiting for their Cybertruck delivery. Some even suggested that Tesla deliver the trucks as is and fix them later. However, that's not how recalls work. Once the NHTSA has been notified of the issue, the carmaker can't deliver any vehicle until the problem is fixed. Hopefully, this shouldn't take long, or we risk seeing another viral graffiti on the Cybertruck's doors and frunks.
The act has been widely criticized on social media, although not everyone was rattled by the message. Some even suggested that Tesla make the graffitied trucks part of a special edition Cybertruck. However, a recent video from the same parking lot in Fort Lauderdale shows that Tesla employees disagreed. All the pickup trucks have been wiped clean, with their stainless steel armor shining while waiting for customer pickup.
To be fair, considering that the Cybertruck is not pained and the stainless steel body is easy to clean, the paint wouldn't have resisted very long. Most likely, Tesla employees who cleaned the trucks didn't have to work that hard. However, this doesn't mean that Tesla won't release a special "F**ck Elon" decal for those who wish. After all, it did so for the cracked window during the Cybertruck unveiling in 2019. It's also true that, at the time, Elon Musk had a much sharper sense of humor.
Even though the Cybertrucks have benefitted from an additional power wash, this doesn't mean that their designated owners would be able to pick them up. Tesla's electric pickup is subject to two safety recalls and, therefore, cannot be delivered until the issues are fixed. This has angered some people more than the spray-painted message. That is understandable, considering that they have been waiting for the Cybertruck for a long time.
One of the problems was caused by the Cybertruck's gigawiper, a 62-inch (157-cm) metal arm that puts an enormous strain on the wiper motor. This caused it to fail prematurely, so Tesla took some time to develop a better motor that could last longer in the rain. The second recall was prompted by a piece of trim from the truck's sail, which could become loose and pose a danger to other road users if it detaches.
Both issues seem minor to some people, especially those waiting for their Cybertruck delivery. Some even suggested that Tesla deliver the trucks as is and fix them later. However, that's not how recalls work. Once the NHTSA has been notified of the issue, the carmaker can't deliver any vehicle until the problem is fixed. Hopefully, this shouldn't take long, or we risk seeing another viral graffiti on the Cybertruck's doors and frunks.
Here’s an update, it looks like all the vandalism has been cleaned off. This video was just taken 1 hour ago by thou_sands via TikTok.
— Nic Cruz Patane (@niccruzpatane) June 22, 2024
Stainless steel ftw. https://t.co/EHtko2Ixdz pic.twitter.com/IYTch2eWsx
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