Tesla Cybertruck owners are experiencing unexpected public hostility, with many reporting aggressive gestures and cold treatment from other drivers on the road, according to accounts shared at the recent Cybertruck Rodeo event in Texas.
John Cronin, who helped organize the gathering, recounted his journey from Texas to Plymouth Rock in his Cybertruck. "I knew buying a Cybertruck would turn heads," he said, "but I never expected it to turn people against me."
The backlash appears linked not to the vehicle itself, but to Tesla CEO Elon Musk's controversial political stance and social media presence. Over 120 Cybertruck owners at the rodeo described encounters with middle fingers, angry stares, and general animosity during their daily drives.
The event, while peaceful, highlighted growing tensions. "Forces are against us," warned one speaker, while a Tesla employee acknowledged "it's a little bit of a difficult time" for the company. With declining sales, mounting inventory worth $200 million, and over 80 companies reportedly declining to sponsor the rodeo, the pressure is evident.
Matt Holm, president of the Tesla Owners Club of Austin and a Democrat, believes the public's reaction is misguided. "I think people are nuanced enough to figure out there's a difference between a CEO and a product," he stated.
Some owners, like Anuarbek Imanbaev, vice president of the Tesla Owners Club, noted the ironic shift in public perception. "In the early days of Tesla, guys in big gas-guzzling trucks used to shoot exhaust at your car," he recalled. "Now all these same guys are giving us thumbs up and honking their horns in support."
Despite the challenges, many Cybertruck enthusiasts remain committed to their vehicles, choosing to separate their appreciation for Tesla's innovation from the political controversy surrounding its CEO.