Cybertrucks donated to help LA fires: heroic act or poor marketing ploy?

Tesla Cybertruck deliveries have stalled in California as the electric vehicles are helping first responders and civilians during the LA wildfires. Some owners commend Musk’s heroic act, while others are calling it a marketing ploy.

Elon Musk took to X to apologize for the delayed Cybertruck deliveries in California.

“We need to use those trucks as mobile base stations to provide power to Starlink Internet terminals in areas of LA without connectivity,” the post reads.

Apologies to those expecting Cybertruck deliveries in California over the next few days.

We need to use those trucks as mobile base stations to provide power to Starlink Internet terminals in areas of LA without connectivity.

A new truck will be delivered end of week.

undefined Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 12, 2025

The Los Angeles wildfires have caused devastation across the city, destroying approximately 12,000 homes, displacing roughly 150,000, and killing at least 24 people.

While companies like Snapchat have been making donations to support victims of the wildfires, Elon Musk has a novel solution to the lack of WiFi connectivity and power outages caused by the fires.

Sawyer Merritt, a prominent Tesla investor, posted on X that Tesla has donated Cybertrucks to be used as battery banks for the Altadena Mountain Rescue station until power is restored.

NEWS: Tesla has donated multiple Cybertrucks to be utilized as battery banks for Altadena Mountain Rescue at their station until power is restored.

This is where the 14,200-acre Eaton Fire is currently raging in LA.

Altadena Rescue: undefinedThis will greatly help the team to power… pic.twitter.com/IOgdd1tovK

undefined Sawyer Merritt (@SawyerMerritt) January 12, 2025

"This will greatly help the team power radios, computers, and lights as we work into the dark,” said Altadena Mountain Rescue in a post on Instagram.

Musk said that Cybertrucks will also be positioned with Starlinks to provide free WiFi to high-priority areas in LA and Malibu.

We are going to position Cybertrucks with Starlinks and free WiFi in a grid pattern in the areas that most need it in the greater LA/Malibu area https://t.co/oWilgDyVh5

undefined Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 12, 2025

Musk’s Cybertrucks are also supplying power to firefighters, along with WiFi connectivity that's been knocked out.

Despite the humanitarian display, users on the Cybertruck Owners Club forum aren’t very pleased about the delays.

“Mine was not promised until it arrived at the delivery center. I sold my car a couple of weeks before that since the estimate was earlier. Never occurred to me Tesla would be responsible for my transportation,” one user said.

Another user claimed that this was just a marketing stunt and that Musk's lending of Cybertrucks to the city was cutting costs on traditional advertising.

“You can't always have a Natural Disaster when you need some advertising,” said one user.