MANILA — Content creator Adam Alejo turned heads in Navotas after driving his self-made version of the Tesla Cybertruck, built using simple materials and driven by a Honda PCX motorcycle.
Alejo said the project idea came after local celebrities went viral for owning Cybertrucks.
“At that time, medyo nagte-trending ang Cybertruck dahil mayroong artista na nakabili. Tapos sa Pilipinas, parang kaunti lang naman ‘yung may ganon,” he told ABS-CBN News.
Alejo and his team initially planned to build the frame from wood but switched to PVC pipes for practicality. They then used liso metal sheets for the exterior, resembling the original Cybertruck’s silver finish.
“Dapat talaga kahoy din ‘yung [exterior] tapos pipinturahan na lang ng color silver pero naisip nung isang tropa ko na what if ‘yung liso [na lang kasi] silver na siya, ‘di na namin siya pipinturahan,” he explained.
The build took about a week, and they conducted two test drives in a spacious area to ensure safety. Alejo admitted wind resistance made control tricky.
“Minsan, napapaliko ako [nang] kusa and delikado ‘yung ganon… goods na kami doon as long as nakita namin na umandar [at] nakita namin na nakipagsabayan sa mga sasakyan, okay na,” he said.
He likened the driving experience to riding a motorbike but with the added challenge of balancing a larger frame. The most difficult part was ensuring structural sturdiness using zip ties and screws.
“Isipin mo kung di namin na-make sure ‘yung structure na matibay, ta’s inandar namin siya tsaka siya nag-break, makakadisgrasya ‘yun,” Alejo said.
In a video, Alejo was seen nervously passing a police checkpoint but was relieved when officers simply smiled at his creation. Still, he clarified the project was for content only and not intended for road use.
“The idea is to just do it as a content… We prioritize ‘yung safety… Isang araw lang ito, makita lang namin na umandar ito ng 10 minutes, okay na kami,” he said.
Alejo emphasized he wasn’t trying to endanger anyone.
“The goal is not to use it para ipambiyahe but just to roam around, ipakita sa mga tao, bigyan sila ng kaaliwan,” he said.
The DIY Cybertruck is now retired, having served its purpose of entertaining the public—even just for 10 minutes.