American Military Places Order for Tesla Cybertruck, But Treats It as a "Target"

Cybertruck has a new purpose

Hexun Tech News, Beijing time August 7, according to the car website Electrek, Elon Musk's wish is coming true: Tesla Cybertruck will soon be used by the American military, but with an unexpected use.

Musk previously claimed that Cybertruck was bulletproof and could "survive in a post-apocalyptic world." He also indicated that this electric pickup truck was suitable for military use and even directly pitched it to the US military.

Given that Cybertruck has been proven to be a commercial failure product, despite reduced production, if an order from the American military comes in at this time, it would undoubtedly be a blessing for Tesla.

Now, the order is in. According to new files obtained by US media outlet The War Zone, the US Air Force Flight Test Center (AFTC) plans to purchase 33 target vehicles, including 2 Tesla Cybertrucks, and transport them to White Sands Missile Range (WSMR) in New Mexico.

The US military is concerned about enemy forces using Cybertruck

AFTC's procurement list includes various types of vehicles, including sedans, pickup trucks, SUVs, and light-duty trucks. However, apart from Cybertruck, AFTC did not specify specific brands for other vehicle types.

They plan to use these vehicles as targets for guided weapons. So why do they specifically want to use Cybertruck? According to AFTC's files, potential enemy forces may start using Tesla Cybertruck because it can withstand major impacts without suffering the same level of damage as ordinary vehicles, so they hope to test their weapons to ensure they can hit and destroy such a vehicle in actual combat.

Regardless of this, it might be good news for Tesla since Cybertruck's annual sales are currently around 20,000 units, far from Musk's original target of 500,000 units per year, and every sale counts.