Elon Musk has praised his Tesla Cybertruck following a shocking explosion outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas on Wednesday, January 1st, which tragically killed the driver and injured seven others.
The blast occurred in the early morning hours, and videos captured the intense flames erupting from the vehicle as it sat in front of the hotel.
Witnesses from inside and outside the hotel were quick to capture footage of the explosion.
Authorities were quick to respond, and the FBI is currently investigating whether the explosion was an act of terrorism.
“We are trying to understand if this was a terrorist attack,” said FBI special agent Jeremy Schwartz, although he confirmed that they were still piecing together the details.
According to Sheriff Kevin McMahill, both the Cybertruck and the vehicle involved in a separate incident in New Orleans, where a truck drove into a crowd, were rented through the car-sharing service Turo.
Musk, however, was quick to clarify that the explosion had nothing to do with the Cybertruck itself.
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He explained in a post on social media that “the explosion was caused by very large fireworks and/or a bomb carried in the bed of the rented Cybertruck” and that all vehicle telemetry was positive at the time of the incident.
In a follow-up tweet, Musk praised the vehicle’s safety features, saying that the Cybertruck “contained the explosion and directed the blast upwards.”
Remarkably, Musk pointed out, “Not even the glass doors of the hotel lobby were broken.”
Authorities have not yet identified the driver of the vehicle, though the FBI has confirmed it was rented in Colorado.
Meanwhile, Turo spokespersons indicated that there was no indication the renters had criminal backgrounds.
While the investigation continues, the event has sparked debates about the safety of electric vehicles and their role in major incidents.
Musk’s comments have fueled further discussion about the resilience of the Cybertruck.