Elon M. and the perfect car for the end of the world

Elon Musk likes provocation. And to achieve this, almost any means is acceptable to him.

In less than a year, the tech billionaire has turned Twitter into the channel of choice for hate and anti-Semitism for right-wing extremists, Hamas and the like.

And now it’s Tesla’s turn. With the Cybertruck.

German tech blogger Sascha Pallenberg, who emigrated to Taiwan, summed it up:

In his analysis, which is worth reading (see Resources) Pallenberg writes about a ‘fascinating’ change at the electric car pioneer. Or should we speak of “worrying”?

What is certain is: With the Cybertruck, the American company sells a ‘road tank’ that looks completely different from all previous Tesla models. At the same time, Musk’s rhetoric and the atmosphere around the company have shifted from a “we can do it” narrative to a pessimistic, foreboding mood, Pallenberg notes.

Crazy Musk

The ‘Mad Max’ vibrations that were already palpable when the special vehicle was presented in 2019 have become even more apparent. The Cybertruck could easily star in a dystopian science fiction film.

It’s not just the warlike appearance of the Cybertruck with its sharp edges and anything but aerodynamic design. Above all, it is the behavior of the Tesla boss that speaks volumes.

Musk assures Cybertruck buyers:

During the most recent Cybertruck presentation, the Tesla boss actually talked about “late civilization vibes,” which can be translated as “end times vibes.”

It’s true that the Cybertruck’s steel shell is supposed to be bulletproof. As video evidence, she was shot with submachine guns. (It should be noted that these “tests” were conducted with 9-millimeter pistol ammunition, not assault rifle ammunition, which is much more powerful.)

Now the Cybertruck has a road traffic problem that is far too serious to joke about. It is the so-called ‘crumple zone’.

Sascha Pallenberg warns in a gloomy prediction that the Cybertruck will “kill a lot of people”:

The news magazine “Der Spiegel” also stated that this has little to do with the idea of ​​peaceful coexistence in road traffic. “It sounds like you’re preparing for a fight for survival on the streets.”

If you walk or cycle, you are three times more likely to die in a collision with a pickup truck. But the occupants of smaller cars are also at risk.

Critical voices recall that Elon Musk himself drove over a “child-sized sign” with a Cybertruck prototype in late 2019 when he ignored a turning ban after visiting a restaurant.

Should we worry about this (in Europe)?

Bulletproof glass, exoskeleton, bulletproof body: with the Cybertruck, Tesla makes a militarized vehicle accessible to ‘normal’ people. In the US for now.

But when will the monster pickup get here? Watson asked the Federal Roads Office (Astra).

Astra spokesman Lorenzo Quolantoni explained:

In late 2020, it was said that the Cybertruck would only be available for the North American market, “as it would not be registered in Europe in its current form due to its very rigid bodywork and resulting lack of occupant and pedestrian protection. “

A German TÜV expert explained:

In principle, there is a possibility of direct import. Anyone who really wants to drive the American car on local roads could do so with a so-called individual permit, as “Spiegel” writes.

Are cyber trucks imported into Germany or another European country allowed to drive on the Swiss road network? The Astra also puts this question into perspective:

In October, several European advocacy groups warned of a legal loophole allowing monster pickups from the US to be registered in Europe using an “individual vehicle approval” (IVA).

Does Astra therefore assume that Cybertrucks will also drive through Switzerland in 2024?

The Astra spokesperson limits:

The fact that some European country allows these vehicles does not affect the registration of these vehicles in Switzerland. However, if a vehicle receives general European approval, Switzerland takes over this type-approval.

But even if the Cybertruck does not reach Europe or even Switzerland in large numbers, the ‘aggressive design language’ is also finding its way onto the streets in this country, the ‘Spiegel’ warns.

Several electric car makers are now relying on strikingly sharp and eye-catching luxury SUVs.

The upgrade of the asphalt continues. And it will remain that way until we put an end to “Mad Musk” and Co. on the political path.

Sources