Tesla Cybertruck deliveries are just over a month away, and on Friday we learned something new about the electric pickup truck – it is actually bulletproof as originally claimed.
When Tesla unveiled the Cybertruck to the world back in 2019, Elon Musk claimed its Ultra-Hard 30X Cold-Rolled stainless-steel body was strong enough to withstand the impact from a 9 mm handgun round. Many doubted that claim, especially after Musk also claimed the Cybertruck would have bulletproof glass, only to have it shatter moments later when chief designer Franz von Holzhausen threw a large metal ball at it (it was later revealed that von Holzhausen’s sledgehammer blast earlier in the presentation had cracked the corner of the window, causing it to lose structural integrity).
However despite the doubts, it turns out the Cybertruck will be bulletproof.
On Friday a video was shared on X showing a Cybertruck driving down a California highway. While we have seen many videos like this over the last few weeks and months, this one was different in that the driver and rear passenger doors were riddled with bullet holes. Musk was quick to confirm that Tesla conducted bulletproof testing on this Cybertruck, saying they “emptied the entire drum magazine of a Tommy gun into the driver door Al Capone style,” adding that “no bullets penetrated into the passenger compartment.”
BREAKING: Cybertruck seen on the highway potentially gone through bullet proof testing 📐👽🤯
Seen by member of the club. pic.twitter.com/wBr9mNrLl7
— Tesla Owners Silicon Valley (@teslaownersSV) October 20, 2023
UPDATE: Here are some good daytime photos of this Cybertruck.
Seems the @Tesla engineering team took @cybertruck thru the streets of East Oakland today? 😂 pic.twitter.com/XaSPWEkSI4
— Tesla East Bay Fremont (@TeslaOwnersEBay) October 20, 2023
BREAKING: @tesla Cybertruck can handle Tommy Gun bullets. 📐👽💀🔥📸
Seen in Fremont. pic.twitter.com/9dEs6llk2k
— Tesla Owners Silicon Valley (@teslaownersSV) October 20, 2023
A quick Google search reveals a Tommy gun uses a larger caliber (0.45) bullet, which also has about 30% more power than a 9mm round. Despite the higher power, the smaller size of a 9mm round means it has higher muzzle velocity, translating into deeper penetration than a .45 caliber bullet. This means that while it may be bulletproof for a 0.45 caliber round, the stainless steel panels may not be able to withstand a 9mm round.
With this test appearing to show the Cybertruck is bulletproof, it will be interesting to see how Tesla handles this and if it will actually be certified as bulletproof. If it does this could potentially pose some problems for owners in some jurisdictions, like British Columbia, where it may then be considered an armoured vehicle, and as such require a special permit to operate. Doing so without one could land you a fine up to $10,000 and six months in jail. If any of our readers are more familiar with how this might impact the Cybertruck, reach out to us at tips@driveteslacanada.ca, or leave a comment below.
