Tesla CEO Elon Musk said the vehicle will not look like a conventional pickup truck, but will bear some resemblance to NASA’s Mars Rover concept.
When Tesla CEO Elon Musk unveiled his vision for the electric pickup truck, many expected a futuristic twist, but few foresaw the radical design. Musk kept his word, emphasizing that the vehicle “wouldn’t look like a conventional pickup truck.” And indeed, the final design caused a worldwide stir, immediately drawing comparisons to NASA’s Mars Rover concept.
The vehicle, known as the Tesla Cybertruck, features a sharp-edged stainless steel body that’s more reminiscent of a science-fiction movie than anything currently on the road. With its armored shell and bulletproof glass, the Cybertruck appears designed not only for Earth’s highways, but also for extraterrestrial terrain. The similarity to NASA’s Mars Rover concept is no coincidence. Musk has long spoken of his dream of colonizing Mars, and many believe the Cybertruck reflects those ambitions—not only in spirit, but potentially as a foundational design for future spacecraft.
Indeed, the CyberTruck’s design philosophy prioritizes durability, performance, and functionality over traditional aesthetics. Its exoskeleton is constructed of ultra-hard, cold-rolled stainless steel, the same material used in SpaceX’s Starship rocket. This overlap between Tesla and SpaceX Technologies hints at a broader strategy: to develop vehicles that are not only sustainable and electric, but also rugged enough for the harshest environments—be they deserts, forests, or perhaps even Martian landscapes.
While many traditional car buyers were shocked by the design, others praised it as bold and visionary. The sharp lines, lack of curves, and absence of paint defy all automotive conventions. The vehicle isn’t designed to blend in, but rather to stand out and be a talking point. Technically, the CyberTruck offers strong performance, including quick acceleration, adaptive air suspension, and the ability to tow over 6,300 kg. Yet it’s the design that truly sets it apart.
The visual similarity to NASA’s rover concept also plays a role in Musk’s oversized branding. He’s not just selling a truck: He’s selling a dream of a future in which humanity lives on multiple planets and everyday vehicles appear like machines from another world. In a crowded market of trucks that all follow the same visual scheme, the Cybertuck dares to make a difference, perfectly fitting Musk’s disruptive approach to technology and design.
It remains to be seen whether the public will fully embrace this new form factor, but one thing is clear: Elon Musk has pushed the boundaries again. The Cybertuck may look unlike anything we’ve ever seen on Earth, but perhaps that’s the point.
