Electric pickup truck suffered severe damage on race track; Without official support from the brand in the country, repair becomes practically financially unfeasible
What was supposed to be a demonstration of power and exclusivity ended as a loss of viral proportions at the Garuga racetrack in Uganda. The only Tesla Cybertruck unit registered in the African country was involved in a severe accident when it overturned during an exhibition, resulting in the probable total loss of the vehicle.
The incident exposes not only recklessness behind the wheel, but the logistical abyss of maintaining a highly complex electric vehicle in poor regions and where Elon Musk’s automaker does not officially operate.
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Images circulating on social networks show the moment when the driver tries to make a high-speed turn on the dirt track. The combination of the pickup’s high weight — which exceeds three tons — with the center of gravity and the low grip of the uneven ground proved fatal to the stability of the model.
The vehicle overturned violently, significantly deforming the stainless steel “exoskeleton” and shattering the armored glass — items that are the aesthetic and structural signature of the Cybertruck.
Although the driver escaped without serious injuries, the future of the pickup is pessimistic. The accident in Garuga serves as a case study on the risks of the independent import of technological vehicles without a support network.
Tesla does not have an aftermarket infrastructure in Uganda. This means that there are no authorized dealerships, trained technicians, or inventory of complex parts such as body panels that require specific tooling for repair. Experts point out that the cost of shipping the wreckage back to the United States or Europe, added to the cost of repair, should exceed the price of a new unit.
The episode reinforces that, in addition to the purchase price, the exclusivity of running an unprecedented model on a continent takes its toll on the first poorly calculated corner.
