Why Do Tesla's Mockeries Benefit Its Rivals?

Tesla spends its time comparing the performance of its products while disparaging those of its competitors. A double-edged game!

“Mockery is the most forgivable of all insults.” And Tesla will soon regret it. Because spending its time humiliating rivals instead of forging its own independent path, the American automaker and its founder Elon Musk are playing a very dangerous game.

The day after the unveiling of the Cybertruck, social media are filled with harsh criticism aimed at Tesla’s electric pickup. Nothing seems to fulfill its promises: price, unknown delivery times, range— even the most hardcore fans can’t hide their disappointment.

During the presentation, Musk joked that his Cybertruck could beat a Porsche 911 in acceleration… while towing another Porsche 911. “Who cares if the Cybertruck accelerates faster in a straight line? It will never be a sports car“, can be read in a comment on X, Musk’s social network.

The strategy of Musk and Tesla is ultimately obvious: divert attention to hide its own shortcomings. But the tactic no longer seems to work. Comparing itself to Porsche, financial analysts interpret it differently: an inferiority complex to fight. So in a way, Tesla is promoting Porsche. But their customers are not at all the same… It’s like comparing a hamburger and a seafood platter to see which is more filling. No sense at all.

But Tesla’s strategy is even more counterproductive when it targets direct competitors like Ford or Rivian. Now that the specifications and pricing are known, customers can make their choice. And this spells trouble for Tesla. Because apart from its disruptive design, the Cybertruck offers nothing more to its customers. It is therefore only aimed at eccentric individuals craving visibility… or street mockery.

Ford F150 Tesla Cybertruck — Comparisons flood the internet now, comparing the Tesla Cybertruck to its rivals, here the Ford F150.

Because here’s the thing: during this same launch, the Cybertruck mocked the Ford F150 Lightning. Except that this model is already available in dealerships and its starting price is $49,995, versus $60,990 for the Cybertruck… in 2025 at the earliest. The blow is a heavy one for Tesla. And performance-wise, the Cybertruck Propulsion will be inferior in every way to the Ford F150 Lightning, Musk having carefully compared it with his Cybertruck Cyberbeast of 845 hp. An unbalanced match that, once again, turns into an inappropriate penis comparison according to fans.

Same for Rivian, whose R1T was elected – and reinforced over the last 24 hours – as the best electric pickup truck in the world. Its price, again, is lower than Tesla’s in its first available trim in 2024, the Dual Motor. $73,000 for Rivian, $79,990 for the Cybertruck.

Since then, Tesla’s rivals have praised the spotlight on their products, as they will use it to dismantle the Cybertruck’s performance and its inability to deliver models within 12 to 24 months. Such is the fable of the boomerang effect.