Musk says fireworks or bomb caused Cybertruck explosion in Las Vegas

Tesla CEO Elon Musk addressed a deadly explosion involving a rented Cybertruck outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas, emphasizing that the incident was unrelated to the vehicle’s design or performance.

“We have now confirmed that the explosion was caused by very large fireworks and/or a bomb carried in the bed of the rented Cybertruck and is unrelated to the vehicle itself,” Musk stated on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. “All vehicle telemetry was positive at the time of the explosion.”

The explosion occurred on Wednesday when the electric truck pulled up to the hotel’s glass entrance and suddenly erupted into flames, followed by smaller blasts that appeared to resemble fireworks. One person inside the Cybertruck was killed, and seven others sustained minor injuries, according to Las Vegas Sheriff Kevin McMahill.

Video footage captured the stainless steel Cybertruck parked near the entrance moments before the large explosion engulfed the area.

Musk, whose company has been a leader in electric vehicle innovation, described the incident as unprecedented. “The whole Tesla senior team is investigating,” he said earlier in the day. “We’ve never seen anything like this.”

The Tesla chief’s comments have drawn significant attention, particularly as the Cybertruck represents a major milestone for the automaker. The vehicle’s rugged design and durability have been key marketing points since its unveiling.

Musk, a vocal supporter of President-elect Donald Trump during the November election, has been named by Trump to lead a commission on reducing government spending. He said Tesla would share more findings as the investigation continues.

The Las Vegas explosion adds to a tense day in the United States, as President Joe Biden was also briefed on a separate car-ramming attack in New Orleans that left at least 10 people dead. While authorities have not linked the two incidents, the Las Vegas explosion remains under investigation.

Sheriff McMahill confirmed that authorities are working to determine how the fireworks or bomb ended up in the truck’s bed. The Trump hotel was evacuated following the explosion as a precautionary measure.

For now, Musk has stressed the importance of waiting for further details from the investigation, reiterating that the incident does not appear to stem from any mechanical or design flaws in the Cybertruck. “We’ll post more information as soon as we learn anything,” Musk wrote on X.