When Tesla unveiled the Cybertruck, Elon Musk made bold claims about the vehicle’s durability, particularly its stainless steel body panels, which were showcased in a video as being resistant to bullets. However, there were doubts regarding the actual bulletproof capabilities of the Cybertruck since the initial demonstration involved subsonic ammunition, which carries less energy and therefore has reduced penetrating power.
With questions lingering about the true resilience of the Cybertruck against firearms, Zack Nelson from the YouTube channel JerryRigEverything decided to conduct a rigorous test. Known for his thorough durability tests of smartphones, Nelson set out to see how the Cybertruck would stand against a variety of weapons and ammunition types.
The test began with a 9 mm Glock 19, a common handgun, which failed to penetrate the Cybertruck’s stainless steel door panel, even though multiple hits created surface-level cracks. The .22 cal rounds, traveling at a muzzle velocity of 304 m/s, were also unable to make a dent on the Cybertruck.
A turning point came with the use of a .17 cal rifle, which had a much higher muzzle velocity of 762 m/s. The first shot from this weapon succeeded in piercing the Cybertruck’s door panel, causing minor damage. Surprisingly, the inner panel remained intact despite the external breach.
The stakes were raised further when Nelson tested an AR-15 firing 223 Remington ammunition. With its sizeable rounds and impressive muzzle velocity of 975 m/s, the 223 Remington round effortlessly penetrated the Cybertruck’s door panel.
The peak of the test came with the .50 cal rifle, known for its significant firepower and a muzzle velocity of 883 m/s. True to its fearsome reputation, the .50 cal rifle easily tore through both the exterior and interior door panels of the Cybertruck, leaving a conspicuous hole and significant damage in its wake.
The findings from the test revealed a more complex picture than many had anticipated regarding the Cybertruck’s bulletproof nature. It appears that the vehicle could offer some level of protection against smaller firearms, which might resonate with potential U.S. owners given the popularity of handguns. Nonetheless, larger ammunition proved to present a serious challenge to the Cybertruck’s touted bulletproof feature.
These tests are crucial for consumers, providing a clearer understanding of what the Cybertruck can withstand and allowing for informed decisions based on safety considerations.
