Activists paint Tesla-"Cybertruck" orange
Since May, Tesla's "Cybertruck" has been on tour in Germany. The futuristic vehicle is currently being displayed at the workshop in Hamburg-Wandsbek. Two climate activists took advantage of the opportunity: They splashed the car with paint.
Activists from the "Last Generation" group splashed an orange-colored "Cybertruck" at the Tesla Center in Hamburg-Wandsbek. The police confirmed the incident upon request on Saturday morning. According to tagesschau.de, the protest action lasted only a few minutes. The activists were reportedly wearing orange warning vests and entered the Tesla workshop. One of them allegedly threw paint from a handball-sized plastic bucket at the SUV-Cybertruck. The two activists then unfurled a banner in front of the vehicle that read: "Armed for disaster."
In a post on X, the activists wrote that the vehicle represents "how the rich handle Earth heating." According to the Tagesschau report, the public prosecutor's office in Hamburg is investigating the two 21- and 55-year-old climate activists for damage to property. They could face a fine.
Tesla is currently presenting its futuristic "Cybertruck" in Europe. The armored SUV has been touring Germany since early May. In Germany, the car is being shown in Berlin, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Hannover, Munich, and Stuttgart. Tesla currently has the Cybertruck on display at its branch in Wandsbek.
Not even allowed in Europe
The 3.1-ton, 5.68-meter heavy vehicle has not been approved for use in Europe yet. The company has not provided any information on whether and when a approval in Germany and other European countries will be pursued.
The activists write on X: "The truck's construction actually ensures that it won't get approved in Germany." Furthermore, they pointed out that in the event of an accident, the truck's rigid metal panels would not deform, so the forces would not be absorbed.
The first "Cybertrucks" in the US were delivered at the end of November. Tesla recently recalled nearly 4,000 vehicles due to the gas pedal getting stuck and the car accelerating uncontrollably. The recall was the first indication of how many units of the model had been sold, as it affected all Cybertrucks built from mid-November 2020 to early April 2021. Company CEO Elon Musk had previously stated that he could imagine annual deliveries of around 250,000 Cybertrucks in the future.
- Despite Tesla's efforts to promote the 'Cybertruck' in Germany, including its display in Hamburg-Wandsbek, some technology companies and environmental protection groups have voiced concerns about its impact on the environment.
- The incident with the 'Cybertruck' in Hamburg-Wandsbek has sparked discussions among environmental advocacy groups and technology companies in Hamburg about the need for stricter regulations on the use of heavy vehicles, especially those not yet approved for use in Europe.
- In light of the 'Last Generation' group's protest against Tesla's 'Cybertruck' in Hamburg, several technology companies in Hamburg have pledged to invest more in research and development of electric vehicles with a focus on environmental protection and energy efficiency.
