The unveiling of Tesla’s Cybertruck has sparked both excitement and unease, with its futuristic design and alleged connections to science fiction drawing comparisons to the Casspir, a notorious armored vehicle used by apartheid South Africa’s security forces. For a 12-year-old boy named Irvin living in Soweto during the 1980s, the Casspir symbolized an oppressive military intrusion into everyday life.
Decades later, the Cybertruck’s dramatic style has polarized public opinion, with some speculating that its design was inspired by science fiction spaceships. However, the vehicle’s rugged, sharp edges evoke memories of the Casspir, which patrolled streets during apartheid and was used to suppress dissent. The U.S. military has also adopted similar vehicles, deploying them in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The Cybertruck’s marketing taps into apocalyptic fears, emphasizing its ability to withstand extreme conditions and protect against airborne particles. This resonates with a broader cultural trend of romanticized frontier violence and militarism, which encourages individualistic survival over collective interdependence. The vehicle’s modifications by users, including the addition of machine guns, further blur the line between civilian and military use.
The Cybertruck’s adoption by government forces, such as police departments in Southern California and Dubai, raises questions about the normalization of militarized public spaces. As the vehicle becomes increasingly popular among civilians, it forces us to rethink the legacy of apartheid’s militarization and consider the implications for our culture and society. The Casspir’s dark history serves as a warning, reminding us that the lines between civilian and military life are often blurred, and that the consequences of this trend can be devastating.
Source: https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2025/03/tesla-cybertruck-protests-vandalism-elon-musk.html