The Tesla Cybertruck is, quite possibly, the most misunderstood vehicle since the Pontiac Aztek, except unlike the Aztek, the Cybertruck is faster than a 911, tougher than a Silverado, and looks like it was forged in a dystopian sci-fi fever dream. It was supposed to be the future. And on a good day, when the build quality is good, it absolutely is. But the Cybertruck hasn’t just become a conversation piece or a marvel of engineering; it’s become a lightning rod in a country too busy arguing to appreciate the machine itself.

If you can find one that isn’t falling apart at the seams, the Cybertruck is legitimately impressive. The tri-motor "Cyberbeast" version hits 60 mph in under 3 seconds and tows boats without breaking a sweat.
Whisper-Quiet But Carry a Big Stick
It’s whisper-quiet on the highway, absurdly powerful off it, and wraps its driver in stainless steel like some post-apocalyptic chariot. It redefines what a truck can be. But that all hinges on a simple “if”: if it’s built properly. Sadly, that’s a big if. Tesla’s build quality continues to echo the worst days of American manufacturing misaligned panels, squeaky trim, glue where there should be welds. And the kicker? It’s not just a Tesla problem anymore. Like GM and Ford, quality control has taken a back seat to volume, velocity, and viral marketing.
Tesla’s Addition To The Economy
- As of the end of 2024, Tesla employed approximately 125,665 individuals globally. This marked a 10.54% decrease from the previous year, reflecting adjustments in response to market dynamics.
- Tesla's operations in California have had a substantial economic impact. Between 2018 and 2021, the company's activities contributed $16.6 billion in economic activity, averaging $44.4 million injected into the state's economy daily.
- Tesla's Gigafactory in Texas has been a significant economic driver. By the end of 2022, the facility supported approximately 15,000 jobs in the state, contributing $2.1 billion in total sales activity in Travis County.
Still, what makes the Cybertruck uniquely volatile isn’t the craftsmanship, or lack thereof, but what it has come to represent. The truck is no longer just a vehicle. It’s a badge. A battle flag. A statement. In 2025 America, to drive a Cybertruck is to announce, willingly or not, where you stand on Elon Musk. One frustrated owner recently took to Facebook with a plea:
"Tesla has over 100k employees. You’re not a fan of one person working there.
Elon’s not the one bolting my Cybertruck together, yet here you are, taking it out on the hardworking folks at Tesla Service centers. Elon Musk is literally protected by Secret Service. What is your goal?"
One commenter, Jim King, didn’t pull punches:
“Ask the Tesla board what their goal is… Musk has been the one working relentlessly to alienate a large share of the Tesla customer base.”
Jeremy van Hagen had this to say:
“Cybertrucks are NOT bolted together – they’re stuck together with glue.”
Meanwhile, Lars Kyhnau Hansen upped the stakes:
“The goal is to bankrupt Tesla so that people can work somewhere else. It will be better for them and the world.”
Of course, not everyone joined the mob. Xtian Merck fired back with:
“You wanna bankrupt a company because you don’t like the CEO? What about the other companies in the world that have CEOs that do terrible things? None of them matter because they aren’t Elon?”
His defense may not have changed many minds, but it did lay bare the real issue here, nobody’s talking about the truck anymore. The conversation around the Cybertruck has evolved beyond engineering and aesthetics and into a referendum on one man, a man who, as the original post pointed out, isn’t even the one bolting or gluing them together.

Many Cybertruck owners have fallen in love with the vehicle and would happily buy it again, but despite this, people who don’t own the vehicle have influenced people to not even consider it.
But even setting aside Musk’s influence and Tesla’s workforce contributions, owning a Cybertruck comes with its own set of unusual financial realities that some prospective buyers might not anticipate. The true cost of Cybertruck ownership can be unexpectedly high over a five-year period—not just due to its sticker price, but because of insurance premiums, maintenance quirks, and depreciation that doesn't always follow the usual EV curve. If you’re thinking about buying a Cybertruck or are just curious how the numbers stack up, you might want to read this detailed cost breakdown: "I Break Down the Real Cost of Tesla Cybertruck Ownership Over 5 Years – Be Prepared to Be Scared, It's That Way". It may suddenly change how you view the truck’s long-term value.
The Average Tesla Owner's Income
- The average Tesla owner in 2025 has a household income of approximately $144,341, significantly higher than the U.S. median. Notably, 97% of Tesla owners own their homes, with a median home value exceeding $500,000, reflecting the brand's appeal to financially established individuals.
- Tesla ownership skews male, with about 74% of owners identifying as male. The median age of a Tesla owner is 48, aligning with Generation X. Model S owners tend to be older, with a median age of 53, while Model Y owners are slightly younger, averaging 48 years.
- A significant portion of Tesla owners hold advanced degrees, with over one-third possessing a master's or doctoral degree. Common professions among Tesla owners include engineers, operations managers, and software engineers, indicating a strong representation of technically inclined individuals.
The fallout? Some owners are being harassed. Their trucks were vandalized. Scratched. Dented. Plug cables yanked. And in a society where disagreement too often turns into destruction, the truck has become a rolling target. Not because it’s ugly (though some think so), but because it means something. And meaning, in this age of social media gladiators and bad-faith discourse, is a dangerous thing.
Rivian Enters The EV Field
And yet, in the midst of all this chaos, there’s Rivian, the quiet counterpoint. The R1T isn’t flashy, but it works. It delivers consistent build quality, thoughtful design, and the same electric muscle without the culture war. Rivian customers don’t return to their trucks to find them keyed or spat on. They don’t argue in the Whole Foods parking lot. They just drive. Quiet competence is winning, one defected Tesla customer at a time.
The Cybertruck is a paradox and a slight parody of society. It’s both revolutionary and regressive. A truck that could change the world, if only it could get out of its own way. Or rather, if the world could separate the metal from the man. Until then, every Cybertruck will roll down the road carrying more than just a battery pack. It carries a nation’s fragmented conversation about tech, politics, wealth, identity, and yes, even glue.
As a Cybertruck owner, have you faced harassment over owning the vehicle? If so, how did you handle it, and do you think it’s fair?
Leave a comment down below with your thoughts.
Image Source: Pexel, Facebook Page (teslacybertruckflorida) used under Fair Use rule.
Noah Washington is an automotive journalist based in Atlanta, Georgia. He enjoys covering the latest news in the automotive industry and conducting reviews on the latest cars. He has been in the automotive industry since 15 years old and has been featured in prominent automotive news sites. You can reach him on X and LinkedIn for tips and to follow his automotive coverage.

Comments
I get your point it's…
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In reply to It's arguments like this are… by You'reWelcome (not verified)
I get your point it's frustrating when accountability feels like it’s constantly deflected. It’s important to focus on real change, address current issues, and not get stuck in the cycle of shifting blame.
Yes well written if GM got…
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In reply to I didn't see people… by Bobby McBobby (not verified)
Yes well written if GM got away with killing people knowingly give it a rest on Tesla put a muffler on your yap.
There's really no point in…
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In reply to I didn't see people… by Bobby McBobby (not verified)
There's really no point in whining. This is just the way the world works. We can vote for politicians, but don't get a choice who runs the companies that make the products we like. Sometimes, voting with our wallets works. When it doesn't, we take to the streets with guillotines and call up Luigi. Nobody should be safe. MAGA
Good point! selective…
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In reply to I didn't see people… by Bobby McBobby (not verified)
Good point! selective outrage is definitely real. If people truly cared about corporate accountability, they'd call it out across the board, not just when it fits a narrative.
Well that how consumers have…
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Well that how consumers have been treating some small business owners. So it seems no one is exempt.
Well that how consumers have…
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Well that how consumers have been treating some small business owners. So it seems no one is exempt.
Exactly, accountability…
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In reply to Well that how consumers have… by Dorothy W (not verified)
Exactly, accountability should apply to everyone, big or small.
My pillow guy is pretty much…
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My pillow guy is pretty much out of business for similar reasons.
Might also have something to…
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In reply to My pillow guy is pretty much… by DRockSTI2011 (not verified)
Might also have something to do with the fact that his pillows are shitty. But that's also on theme.
I mean he's right, Elon…
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I mean he's right, Elon doesn't bolt the Cybertruck together. He glues it together, and when he's really feeling it, he uses dish soap to put on the peddles.
Musk isn't bolting your…
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Musk isn't bolting your crappy death trap together. He's just pocketing that 100k that you willingly handed him... you'll find out what the other cult members know soon enough about the bolts that weren't installed.. how do you pay 100k for a vehicle that you can't take through a car wash???
I remember when people would…
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In reply to Musk isn't bolting your… by Treyy (not verified)
I remember when people would praise Musk up and down for “building the cars himself” and allegedly sleeping on the factory floor like a homeless person cuz “he works so hard”
Teslas were exploding for no reason even back then.
It isn’t just politics, Musk is a detriment to Tesla quality in general and their shareholders board should do a PayPal on his ass if they hope to recover.
Paying that much and dealing…
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In reply to Musk isn't bolting your… by Treyy (not verified)
Paying that much and dealing with quality issues like that is a tough pill to swallow.
Other CEOs are not running…
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Other CEOs are not running around firing hundreds of thousands of federal workers leaving their families in difficulties that they shouldn't be in. Also, being a sycophant to a psychopath is probably not an admirable quality. Name one CEO that has done the same things that Musk has! He's lived at the public trough in the United States for a long time, and this is how he repays the taxpayers? Yeah, keep that hunk'a junk.
You make a good point.
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In reply to Other CEOs are not running… by Dreddog (not verified)
You make a good point.
Other CEOs are not running…
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Other CEOs are not running around firing hundreds of thousands of federal workers leaving their families in difficulties that they shouldn't be in. Also, being a sycophant to a psychopath is probably not an admirable quality. Name one CEO that has done the same things that Musk has! He's lived at the public trough in the United States for a long time, and this is how he repays the taxpayers? Yeah, keep that hunk'a junk.
Gotta let Luigi out to…
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Gotta let Luigi out to finish his CEO mission!!
Nobody's bolting them…
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Nobody's bolting them together. They're using glue.
It doesn't matter who he's…
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It doesn't matter who he's actually putting the thing together. The fact is that buying a Tesla supports Elon. The reason why he has the power he has because of the company he owns. Take away the company and you take away the power. Besides, a Tesla truck is absolutely ridiculous. It's an ego purchase for sure. No real truck value for anybody who actually needs a truck for what a truck does.
That’s fair.
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In reply to It doesn't matter who he's… by Eric (not verified)
That’s fair.
Why would any sensible…
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Why would any sensible person buy a product which the manufacturer knows has no future. Tesla won't even take their cars back as trade-ins. The Cybertruck is dead-on-arrival and Tesla is on a death spiral.
Only thing dead on arrival…
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In reply to Why would any sensible… by Rick Logan (not verified)
Only thing dead on arrival is anything doing with the left. Gtfo with your stupidity.
If the future is uncertain,…
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In reply to Why would any sensible… by Rick Logan (not verified)
If the future is uncertain, it’s a big risk. The Cybertruck and Tesla’s path are definitely up in the air right now.
Before last year's election,…
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Before last year's election, I looked to purchase a Tesla, but after Elon through up a Nazi salute, I paused. To own a Tesla was thought of as being a status semble, a proud badge of honor, but on January 20th all that changed. One man has single handedly alienated, Jews, blacks and even whites who owned or wished to purchase.
Oh stfu seriously. Nothing…
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In reply to Before last year's election,… by John (not verified)
Oh stfu seriously. Nothing you said is accurate. Please own no vehicle if you have some problem with the owner or history of it. You dumbasses are the ones who own things like a VW and think it's some forward thinking wholesome car. No manufacturer can catch up to the negative associated with that shit and any of its subsidiaries. I also bet you buy things made in China, or any place that uses essentially slave labor. I'm sure you will return and stop using those things, regardless of what it means for your life. Right? Virtue signaling leftist nuts. He alienates nothing, except for crazed leftists. I don't suggest further violence because once people defend themselves the leftist will lose like in history.
I get it. Musk's actions…
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In reply to Before last year's election,… by John (not verified)
I get it. Musk's actions have definitely changed how some people view Tesla.
You are right, FElon didn't…
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You are right, FElon didn't make it. He bought the company, fosters a terrible working environment, underpays employees, and takes credit for everything good and ignores everything bad.... He stopped investigations into his business management, employee treatment, and vehicle safety..... He is indeed the problem with Tesla.
You’re right! Musk’s…
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In reply to You are right, FElon didn't… by James (not verified)
You’re right! Musk’s management and handling of issues at Tesla have been heavily criticized.
This dude definitely bought…
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This dude definitely bought a cyber truck and is desperate to convince others he didn't waste his money trying to feel "manly" driving elons brain child pos...like how else do you write a piece like this glazing it unless elon paid you directly
These radical leftists are…
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These radical leftists are acting like children, Tesla was the best thing on the planet before he wised up, I'll none of these spoiled brats know the reason he joined up with Trump, get a life idiots.
Pagination