Tesla, the popular electric car manufacturer, has always been known for its innovative technology and forward-thinking approach. However, the company also has a playful side, as evidenced by its April Fools’ Day pranks. Each year, the company releases a new prank to amuse its fans and followers, and 2021 was no exception.
Today, Tesla released a video titled “Cybertruck Crash Test” on its Twitter account. The video showed the Cybertruck approaching a crash wall at high speed, but instead of crashing, the truck just kept approaching the wall. The video looped endlessly, leaving viewers feeling confused and bemused. Eventually, it was revealed that the whole thing was a prank, designed to celebrate the spirit of April Fools’ Day.
But this isn’t the first time Tesla has gotten in on the fun. In 2015, the company announced the release of the “Tesla Model W,” a smartwatch that was meant to accompany the Model S sedan. The watch had a number of absurd features, including a tiny solar panel to power the device and a “bio-defense mode” that created a bubble of clean air around the wearer.
In 2018, Tesla released a fake announcement for the “Tesla Model T,” a tiny electric car designed for children. The car had a top speed of 1.6 km/h and could be controlled via a smartphone app. While obviously not a real product, the Model T was a hit with fans and generated a lot of buzz on social media.
Perhaps the most controversial of Tesla’s April Fools’ Day pranks was Elon Musk’s tweet in 2019 that he was considering taking Tesla private at $420 per share, and that funding had been secured. The tweet turned out to be a joke, but it caused a lot of confusion and controversy, and Musk eventually had to pay a $20 million fine to the SEC for securities fraud.
Nonetheless, Tesla’s April Fools’ Day jokes have helped to build a sense of community among the company’s fans and followers, and have provided a welcome break from the usual seriousness of the tech industry.
