Musk Once Said 'Cybertruck Will Be Waterproof Enough To Serve Briefly As Boat': Owner Of Sunk EV Has Different Story To Tell

A Tesla Inc TSLA Cybertruck had to be pulled out of Ventura Harbor in California, serving as a reminder that the electric vehicle is not a certified boat, despite past claims from CEO Elon Musk.

What Happened: A California Cybertruck owner may have learned the hard way that Musk's past claims about how waterproof the Cybertruck would be didn't end up materializing and the vehicle is not a boat.

While attempting to launch a jetski on Monday, the Cybertruck owner was unable to get the vehicle back out of the water, as reported by Electrek from a Safety for Citizens Facebook post.

The report said the Cybertruck fell into the harbor and the owner was able to get out of the vehicle before it sank and became completely submerged off the boat launch ramp.

A Coast Guard diver attached cables and ropes to the vehicle while the Ventura City Fire Department, Vessel Assist, Tow Boat US and Harbor Patrol all assisted with the rescue effort.

Why It's Important: Over the years and ahead of the first deliveries of the Cybertruck in November 2023, Musk made numerous claims about the electric pickup truck that drew inspiration from James Bond films and "Blade Runner."

"Cybertruck will be waterproof enough to serve briefly as a boat, so it can cross rivers, lakes & even seas that aren't too choppy," Musk tweeted in September 2022.

Musk went on to say the goal of the Cybertruck was to be able to cross the water between SpaceX and South Padre Island, a distance of 1,100 feet.

The Cybertruck has a "wade mode" that makes navigating shallow water possible as it raises the ride height and "pressurizes the battery pack." The wade mode has to be activated with the vehicle's off-roading mode, which isn't covered by the warranty. It is unknown if wade mode was activated for this Cybertruck owner.

Musk said the Cybertruck was an impossible vehicle to be made, but worth it at the company's delivery launch.

"I think it's our best product," Musk said at the time.

Speaking of cars that can float and navigate water, did you know that Musk is the owner of a car from the James Bond movie "The Spy Who Loved Me."

Musk paid nearly $1 million for the vehicle in 2013. In the 1977 film, the sports car was able to transform into a submarine and fire missiles underwater. The car, one of eight used during the filming, is the only one that was used in the underwater scenes.

While the vehicle Musk bought doesn't actually transform into a submarine, it served partly as inspiration for the design of the Cybertruck and Musk's push to make the water have boat-like features.

Read Next: