A Detroit rapper who goes by Big Huey says his Tesla Cybertruck was remotely disabled in the middle of the road after he released a track titled “Cybertruck,” and after he received a cease-and-desist letter from Tesla alleging unauthorized use of its trademarks in musical content.
In a video posted by the artist, the in-car display reads: “TESLA CYBERTRUCK DE-ACTIVATED — Critical issue detected” with a specific order to “Comply with cease & desist to re-activate.”
He narrates from the road that he is stranded in traffic: “Cybertruck deactivated… I can’t move the car… I’m stranded.”
A separate clip shows a letter on Tesla letterhead, dated August 1, 2025, addressed to “Mr. Huey” and titled “CEASE AND DESIST — Unauthorized Use of Tesla Intellectual Property — Cybertruck References in Musical Content.” The letter states that a Cybertruck associated with a listed VIN “has been remotely deactivated due to violations of Tesla’s Terms of Use, including misuse of Tesla’s trademarks and brand identifiers in media content that falsely implies endorsement, sponsorship, or affiliation.”
It demands three actions: remove or revise publicly distributed content referencing “Tesla” and “Cybertruck,” cease future use of the marks, and provide written confirmation of compliance within seven days. The letter warns that failure to comply may result in legal action and “permanent revocation of access to Tesla vehicle systems and services.”
The song repeatedly references the vehicle by name in its hook: “Might just pull up Cybertruck… Take a ride with me.” In a follow-up clip the artist reacts to the letter, saying, “This gotta be some type of illegal.”
The letter, if accurate, shows brand enforcement pressure extending beyond takedown requests to the vehicle’s operability, with compliance conditions referenced directly on the car’s display. The artist says he plans to contact Tesla.
Information for this story was found via the sources and companies mentioned. The author has no securities or affiliations related to the organizations discussed. Not a recommendation to buy or sell. Always do additional research and consult a professional before purchasing a security. The author holds no licenses.
