Elon Musk’s Bold Promises Meet Reality After Cybertruck Incident

A Tesla Cybertruck made headlines for an unfortunate reason on Monday, March 10, 2025, when it sank in Ventura harbor, California, while its owner attempted to launch a jet ski.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has previously claimed that the Cybertruck would be “waterproof enough” to serve as a boat, raising questions about the vehicle’s actual capabilities when it comes to water navigation.

The incident escalated quickly, with emergency services including the Ventura City Fire Department and the Coast Guard joining forces to recover the submerged truck.

The incident raises concerns about the practicality of Elon Musk’s promises

While the Cybertruck allegedly comes equipped with a ‘wade mode’ that raises the vehicle’s height and pressurizes the battery pack for brief water entry, this feature is linked to the off-road mode, which is not covered under Tesla’s warranty. Thus, doubts linger over the vehicle’s reliability in water.

Musk’s earlier assertions about Tesla vehicles being able to float—even suggesting crossings between Texas’s SpaceX’s Starbase and South Padre Island—have drawn skepticism, especially given his track record of bold claims.

Users have shown reluctance to trust these capabilities, as demonstrated by the recent incident where the owner had to scramble out of the truck as it became fully submerged off the boat ramp.

Though some speculate the mishap may have been caused by user error, it raises concerns about the practicality of Musk’s promises. Interestingly, rival manufacturer BYD appears to be taking a different approach by successfully introducing water-capable designs in their vehicles, further spotlighting Tesla’s challenges in the evolving electric vehicle landscape.

As Tesla continues to push the boundaries of automotive technology, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of thorough testing—and consumer caution—when it comes to bold new innovations in the automotive industry.