Tesla Cybertrucks have only been on the road for a few months. In addition to the idiot nerds engaging the truck’s autopilot feature while wearing an Apple Vision Pro headset, drivers are reporting the trucks have started rusting.

Can Withstand Bullets, but Not Rust

The Tesla Cybertruck was billed as the truck of the future that could endure any terrain at any time. Apparently, rain wasn’t a factor. Tesla chose stainless steel for the vehicle’s exterior and its finish. Elon Musk famously demonstrated the Cybertruck’s ability to take a bullet with a bulletproof body, windshield, and side windows.

Reports on the Cybertruck Owner’s Forum are chronicling owners experiences with seeing flecks of rust developing on the surface and around panels. Drivers are reporting rust developing in less than 381 miles and just driving the vehicle around town.

The Cybertruck has 381 miles on it, and spent much of the 11 days in custody parked in front of my house.

Cybertruck Owner

Stainless steel is an iron alloy. The metal alloy consists of chromium, nickel, and carbon. It’s corrosion resistant because of the chromium metal mixed in the alloy. Stainless steel can still rust however. It’s called, stainless, not ‘stainfree’ steel.

Musk Cheaps Out on Stainless Steel

The last car to ship shod in stainless steel is the famous DeLorean.

The DeLorean was famous for its gullwing doors, being an extremely slow sports car, and its stainless steel body construction. The DeLorean Motor Company didn’t sell many DeLoreans but the cars have famously held up over time.

The Internet is chock full of posts from DeLorean owners showing off their cars with little to no rust. Extremely impressive given these cars are approaching 40 years old. If these cars aren’t rusting, why are the Cybertrucks rusting?

John DeLorean is a car manufacturing legend. He is credited with starting the domestic muscle car industry during his tenure at GM. He wouldn’t put his stamp on something that would rust. DeLoreans’ stainless steel had a higher than usual chromium content. Chromium prevents stainless steel from rusting. The high level of chromium weighed the car down making it more of a sport coupe instead of a sports car, but prevented it from rusting.

Tesla, citing capitalism, obviously opted for a lighter weight alloy leading to the rust problems we see today.