“Start a business,” they said. “It’ll be fun,” they said. “Use a Tesla Cybertruck to tow a digital billboard for added exposure,” they said. While embarking on a new venture is commonly viewed as a commendable pursuit, some influencers are misguiding you with the last suggestion. Unfortunately, their promotional efforts are undermined as they repeatedly crash into objects while denouncing the Tesla as a scam.
A recent post in the Cyberstuck subreddit shares a video from My Pixel Bus. This is the catchy marketing title adopted by an influencer team showcasing their LED billboard-towing Cybertruck. Yet, rather than generating positive buzz for their budding advertising business, the creators express frustration instead of celebration.
Cybertrucks naturally attract attention, lending some credibility to their business model. If a massive screen displaying advertisements were mounted behind one, it’s reasonable to assume the attention would shift from one eyesore to another. Based in Southern California, My Pixel Bus presents itself as “your new partner to help your business discover thousands of new customers,” while also declaring, “Reddit hates us.” Here’s the backstory.
Like any billboard, the Pixel Bus is quite large. The Cybertruck stands 70.5 inches tall and stretches 223.7 inches long. The billboard trailer seems to nearly mirror that length but approaches double the height. The overall setup is rather cumbersome.
“Despite the impracticality of the whole array, it certainly captured people’s attention,” noted the voiceover in the video. “Any advertisement displayed here is bound to leave a mark, but was this compromise worthwhile?”
The assessment: absolutely not.
“This concept has derailed,” stated My Pixel Bus co-founder Chi Ta. “Cyberfail.”
The Pixel Bus has a knack for colliding with parking structures (perhaps disregarding vehicle limit signs) and has also suffered self-inflicted damage. Sharp turns have led to jackknifing, which harms both the truck and the trailer due to a trailer tongue that is too short. Is user error a factor? Certainly. But can the design of the Cybertruck share in the blame? Absolutely. However, don’t just take my word for it.
“Okay, this Cybertruck is a total scam,” said one of My Pixel Bus’ co-founders. “There are numerous problems. You can’t find anywhere to charge it, and making turns can result in the trailer damaging the back of the vehicle.”
He emphasized that the charging issue is more problematic than the physical damage because for every hour of driving, the Pixel Bus needs an hour to recharge. Notably, this all unfolded during its inaugural trip. For businesses still keen on advertising with My Pixel Bus, there’s a promotional offer of $750 for the first month, which gives you 1,000 ten-second flash ads on a mobile billboard that might be stuck or has crashed, ensuring a greater number of onlookers than a typical bus stop.
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