The closest I can think of might be Apple.
I am not saying spacex or tesla are vapor or hype, but that their fans are very, very enthusiastic about sharing every new thing and wild theory with all of their friends, unpaid.
He seems to be making the argument that people bought the Model 3 because it’s a “good value” and won’t do the same for the cyber truck.
No Doug, people buy a Toyota Camry because it’s a good value. They buy a Model 3 because it’s freakin cool and it’s not $80,000. The cyber truck’s value proposition is not “utilitarian vehicle” either.
The hype train existed before Tesla was a company with a proven track record.
Elon Musk is an incredibly good hype-man.
I'm not saying that it's undeserved, but if cultivating the enthusiasm of others is a skill, folks like Musk have it.
1) People hate car dealerships
2) The cars/trucks are really innovative
3) People hate car dealerships
Generally, it's been something with a large bed structure behind the cabin.
When design edges the cabin perimeter further encroached into the 'bed' space, the ratio of 'car or truck' gets pushed further to the car side.
The Chevrolet Avalanche or Honda Ridgeline would be other examples of vehicles that have played with that boundary before.
I will never buy one, but its no uglier than any other big old truck, anyone who can see beauty in a truck, any truck, has too much testosterone for their own good IMHO.
Maybe TopGear can re-do the destruction test they went through with the Toyota HiLux to see how it really holds up to the competition. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnWKz7Cthkk)