Elon Musk left red faced after 'bulletproof' Tesla truck smashes on stage

22 November 2019, 18:33

By Kate Buck

Elon Musk has unveiled the brand new design for his electric pickup truck at a glittering event in Los Angeles - but not everything went to plan.

The tech entrepreneur was keen to show his audience what he claimed was a "bulletproof" Cybertruck, a brand new, $39,900 (£31,000) electric pick up truck.

Taking to the stage with Tesla's chief designer Franz von Holzhausen, Mr Musk encouraged him to try and smash the body of the new vehicle with a sledgehammer, with hardly left a dent.

The windows however, proved to be less forgiving, despite being billed as "shatterproof".

Mr Musk launched a metal ball at one of the windows, which promptly shattered in front of the shocked audience and caused Mr Musk to exclaim: "Oh my f***ing god."

But keen to try again, Mr Musk threw the ball at the other window - which once again smashed.

Not everything went to plan for Elon Musk at the launch of his new pickup truck
Not everything went to plan for Elon Musk at the launch of his new pickup truck. Picture: PA
The futuristic car is 100 per cent electric
The futuristic car is 100 per cent electric. Picture: PA

He then said: "Maybe that was a little too hard."

Mr Musk said that production of the truck is due to begin in two years time.

It has the capacity to seat up to six people and the highest spec vehicles would have the ability to travel more than 500 miles on a single charge and can reach 0-60mph within 2.9 seconds.

He told the launch: "We need sustainable energy now. If we don't have a pickup truck, we can't solve it.

"The top 3 selling vehicles in America are pickup trucks. To solve sustainable energy, we have to have a pickup truck."

It can fit up to six adults
It can fit up to six adults. Picture: TESLA

Tesla said: "Cybertruck is designed to have the utility of a truck and the performance of a sports car.

"The vehicle is built to be durable, versatile and capable, with exceptional performance both on-road and off-road.

"Cybertruck will come in three variants: Single Motor Rear-Wheel Drive, Dual Motor All-Wheel Drive, and Tri Motor All-Wheel Drive."

Latest World News

See more Latest World News

Azzarello was pictured outside the courthouse a day earlier with a conspiracy sign

'Researcher', 37, set himself on fire outside Donald Trump's hush money trial in shocking 'political protest'

Donald Trump in court

Full jury of 12 and six alternatives selected in Donald Trump hush money trial

Trump Hush Money

Police to review security at Trump courthouse after man sets himself on fire

Donald Trump

Trump’s hush money case to go ahead after judge rejects latest bid to delay

Trump Hush Money

Man in critical condition after setting himself on fire outside Trump courthouse

Paramedics attended to a person who lit themselves on fire near Manhattan Criminal Court

Horror as man sets himself on fire outside Donald Trump's hush money trial in New York

Iran Mideast Tensions

Israel and Iran play down apparent Israeli air strike near nuclear site

France Iran

Police in Paris detain man wearing fake explosives vest at Iranian consulate

Pakistan Suicide Attack

Japanese workers narrowly escape suicide bombing in Pakistan

India Election Narendra Modi

India starts voting as Narendra Modi seeks third term as prime minister

Police officers patrol

No weapons found after police detain man at Iranian consulate in Paris

Congress Ukraine Israel

Ukraine and Israel aid back on track as US House pushes towards weekend votes

Leonid Volkov

Two suspects held in Poland after attack on Navalny ally in Lithuania

Denmark Fire

Firefighters tackle scaffolding dangling outside fire-ravaged Danish landmark

Ruben Vardanyan

Ex-Russian tycoon who led separatist region launches hunger strike in Azerbaijan

Rain in Dubai

Three dead amid heavy flooding after record rain in UAE