I saw this going viral Why Is the Tesla Cybertruck So Depressingly Ugly?, by Ted Gioia.
Regarding the part about the Eiffel Tower, this logic would only apply if his was the only Cybertruck, similar to there only being a single Eiffel Tower, instead of being a mass-produced automobile. But overall, this whole article comes off as rage-bait intended for clicks, well-timed to coincide with the election, where Elon’s presence in politics has become unavoidable. Which having gone viral and garnering over 800 Substack ‘likes’ as of writing this, mission accomplished.
It’s also the author’s latest attempt to shoehorn his ‘society doesn’t appreciate beauty’ criticism at every possible opportunity. Maybe people think the Cybertruck is cool, and its existence is not some indictment on society, but something as mundane as Tesla responding to consumer tastes and demands for a bigger vehicle. I don’t care too much for jazz music music. I find it kinda boring, but Mr. Gioia is evidently a big jazz fan. Different tastes for different people, I guess.
Yes, perhaps the Cybertruck is ugly objectively speaking, but compared to what? It’s unfair to compare it to something like a Ferrari or an Alfa Romeo, as these are categorically different. I think a more appropriate comparison is controlling for category or size of vehicle, so is the Cybertruck more ugly than the Ford F-150, which is of similar dimensions? A Cadillac Escalade? Or a Hummer? The type of person who buys a Cybertruck isn’t choosing between the Cybertruck or an Italian sports car.
To paraphrase the author’s criticism that “it looks like a kid designed it” again, so what? Is this necessarily a bad thing? There are 100 million kids or young adults in America; what are the odds that there is zero overlap between kids’ tastes and adult tastes? Why are Pixar or superhero movies so successful if there is no overlap? At least kids didn’t give the world DEI or wokeness, unlike the wise all-knowing adults in the room.
I think a case can be made that the Cybertruck is more pleasing, being quieter and having a slimmer profile. From what I have observed, the Cybertruck occupies less visual space by having a more streamlined profile compared to the typical large pickup truck. As far as size, the 2024 Ford F-150 XL is actually 10% longer than the Cybertruck, at 243.5″ vs 223.7″. It’s also cooler to look at. Unlike the typical pickup truck or SUV, it at least evokes a sense of awe or curiosity. If society lacks beauty, at least the Cybertruck isn’t boring, which cannot be said for most vehicles.
I find it hard to believe that the sort of person who deplores the Cybertruck for being an eyesore, at the same time has carved a mental exception for those equally big and far more common trucks and SUVs. The Cybertruck, being an extension of Elon Musk, is an indirect way of criticizing what he represents, and the truck being secondary. [The author has criticized Mr. Musk for algorithmically suppressing outgoing links on Twitter/X, which is a valid point, as others have reported that Substack links tend to be be penalized.] Or a criticism of America’s trend towards bigger cars overall, and the Cybertruck also being the most distinctive but far from the worst offender of such excesses.