A Tesla Cybertruck presentation in Germany was interrupted by climate activists who vandalized the electric pickup truck.
In the US, Cybertrucks are being vandalized by Elon haters, and in Europe, it is climate activists who are trashing the electric vehicle.
It might be surprising to hear that climate activists are targeting an electric vehicle company, but Tesla has had a lot of issues with them in Europe, and especially in Germany.
A group of climate activists have been actively trying to stop Tesla’s Gigafactory Berlin for years and more recently, they even occupied the forest where Tesla planned to expand the plant.
These so-called environmentalists are so extreme they are against all personal vehicles, electric or otherwise.
But they are going after the Cybertruck for even more specific reasons.
Even though it’s not available in Europe and may never be, Tesla has been touring a Cybertruck in Europe over the last few months.
It was being shown in Hamburg last week when the presentation was interrupted by climate activists who threw paint on the Cybertruck:
Hendrik Fauer, one of the activists, explained why the climate activists dislike the Cybertruck (translated from German):
The Cybertruck weighs almost three tons, so its enormous weight means it consumes an absurdly high amount of energy. Senseless waste that we as a society cannot afford. Add to that the sharp-edged construction: a safety disaster. The truck perfectly illustrates where the anti-social policies of the last few decades have led us: a few rich people drive well-armored into the disaster – and take everyone with them.
It looks like Tesla was quickly able to clean the truck and resumed its promotion in Germany.
Electrek’s Take
This is stupid. Yes, the Cybertruck is big. Yes, people should buy vehicles that fit their needs. Yes, some people are going to buy the Cybertruckjust tot drive to and from the grocery store and that’s dumb.
Top comment by Rust
I don’t think it’s that stupid to target Tesla with environmental objections. There are a lot of people working there wanting to do something good, and a lot of retail shareholders who feel the same way, but after Tesla went on record about Elon’s lack of interest in a Tesla in which he had less than 20% stake, I really stared to question why he was in the enterprise to begin with. I now suspect it has less to do with the environment and change for the better, and more to do with Elon’s personal wealth and power. At which point Tesla is just another company that happens to make electric cars.
But some people do need trucks, and it’s easier to build a truck that has a much lower impact on the environment, like an electric one powered by renewable energy, than convincing humans that they need to change their habits.
Therefore, I think the Cybertruck, and other larger EVs, have a place in a sustainable economy.
However, I admit that some people buy it for the wrong reasons, and they should be discouraged from doing so – not that it justifies vandalism.
This specific example is pretty dumb consider the Cybertruck is in Europe right now to promote Tesla’s brand and it is itself not for sale nor do Tesla have clear plan to bring it for sale in the market.
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