Electric Vehicles

Tesla Cybertruck Fails Tug-of-War Against Silverado HD (Archive)

Tesla’s Cybertruck fails a real-world tug-of-war against a Silverado HD after its CPU disables the motors mid-battle. Here’s what really happened.

Zoey M

06 Oct 2025 — 2 min read

The Tesla Cybertruck versus Silverado HD tug-of-war didn’t go as planned — a mid-match CPU shutdown ended the battle early.

So much for “indestructible.” Tesla’s Cybertruck, long touted as the future of pickup performance, just lost a good old-fashioned tug-of-war to a stock Chevrolet Silverado HD — and not by a little. The showdown, meant to replicate Tesla’s earlier 2019 stunt against a Ford F-150, ended abruptly when the Cybertruck’s computer shut down mid-battle.

The CPU That Cried “Nope”

According to InsideEVs, the issue wasn’t raw power but Tesla’s own tech getting in the way. The Cybertruck’s onboard CPU detected excessive load during the pull and turned off the motors entirely, effectively forfeiting the match. In simpler terms, the Silverado tugged, and the Cybertruck quit. The only moment Tesla’s truck managed to move its rival was when the Silverado was in park — and no one was in it.

This isn’t the first time Tesla’s marketing bravado has met reality. From the viral 2019 “F-150 tug-of-war” video, later debunked, to drag race clips featuring suspicious edits, Tesla’s record of creative demonstrations keeps catching up with them.

Hype vs. Reality

There’s no denying the Cybertruck is a conversation piece — its design alone guarantees attention, and the Tesla name ensures a long reservation list. However, it’s becoming increasingly complex to trust the company’s claims, as its “proof” videos continue to be exposed as smoke and mirrors.

The Cybertruck didn’t need gimmicks to sell — it’s bold, futuristic, and genuinely innovative in design. However, every staged stunt erodes Tesla’s credibility. If they want to maintain faith in their electric pickups, transparency and real-world honesty will do more than any viral clip ever could.

AutoZealot Take: The Cybertruck doesn’t need smoke and mirrors — but Tesla keeps lighting them anyway. Losing to a Silverado HD isn’t a failure of power; it’s a failure of honesty. The truck world runs on credibility, and until Tesla starts playing fair with its “proof,” that stainless steel shell is going to feel a lot thinner.