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Ohh, that’s a good one. When “Tesla” said last week is was “cancelling” the Cybertruck, Twitter went nuts. But, it was just the latest joke to come from “Tesla” on April Fools’ Day.

Automakers have a long history of April Fools’ Day pranks

It was a blockbuster of a headline at CarBuzz. But it was just the latest April Fools’ Day joke from involving Tesla. Tesla, or its CEO Elon Musk, has not remarked on the joke. Nor did the company comment on last year’s Tech Times report that Tesla was planning to create an in-car Tik-Tok app that would allow you to stream and record Tik-Tok videos, while you were driving. In 2018, Musk said that Tesla had gone bankrupt. Not everyone noticed that he tweeted it had filed “Chapter 14 and a half,” which doesn’t exist.

CarBuzz posted the latest Tesla headline on its April Fool’s Day page along with several other joke headlines that are close to being believable, like “New Study Finds BMW Drivers are Actually the ‘Most Considerate’ of All,” or “Volkswagen Announces Mk9 Golf Will be a Crossover.” Sure, you have to know that the Mk9 is one of the hottest hatchbacks ever to understand the joke, but it’s funny if you do.

Ever wanted a BMW M3 pickup?

BMW announced the M3 truck as an April Fools' Day prank.
BMW M3 Pickup | BMW

In 2011, BMW announced the M3 Truck on April Fools’ Day. What’s not to like about a tiny two door pickup with 414 hp truck with a diamond-plate steel bed? Supposedly, BMW actually built the truck and tested it at the Nurburgring race track.

Not to be outdone, Honda announced its Terii vehicle protection system in 2013. Instead of a blaring car alarm, Terii shames thieves that are trying to break in to cars with phrases like, “Tell me, was your mother not there for you?” It was designed by a cognitive psychologist and hostage negotiators, the company said.

Honda's 2021 April Fools' Day prank was announcing a new Pet Seat.
Honda’s Pet Seat | Honda

But Honda didn’t stop there. Ohh no. Instead, this year the company “announced” its’s Pet Seat for April Fools’ Day. The front seat is designed for dogs, cats, fish, hamsters and other pets “to follow,” Honda said in the official press release. The big clue that it was an April fools joke? The seats will be available either as a factory-fitted option or a retrospective purchase for cars built between April 2017 and March 2022, available through Honda’s dealer network.

Too bad we can’t get the “glovebox treat dispenser with snout-activated button.”

“There’s more in the pipeline, too,” Honda said. “With the Large or Exotic Pet Co-Pilot Front Seat on course for 2024 delivery, launching with the Horse Co-Pilot Front Seat.” That must be for the Ridgeline.

Hyundai is no stranger to April Fools’ Day fun, either. In 2017 the company announced “Click to Fly.” Using drones, and zero-emission technology, and “Martian rover tracking technology,” a video says, “Click to Fly delivers a Hyundai to your door in under 2 hours,” via giant drone. Take that, Amazon!

How about a short-wheelbase Isuzu truck?

The Isuzu D-Max video was Isuzu's 2022 April Fools' Day prank.

Isuzu still makes trucks, and in Europe they’re very popular. But this April Fools’ Day, Isuzu decided that a short-wheelbase urban truck is the answer to a question nobody was asking. Unfortunately, Isuzu’s “all new D-Max Street is only available until 12 p.m. on April 1st 2022,” a quick video said.

Of course not all April Fools’ Jokes land just right. Last year, Volkswagen tried to “rebrand” as “Voltswagen,” and it didn’t really go well.

British company Auto Windscreens produced a slick video in 2010 that shows a new “prescription windscreen,” or windshield, that allows you to drive without glasses. The video was so well produced, and the acting so perfect, many folks believed that it was real.

Even Hot Wheels got in on the April Fools’ Day action

Even Mattel got in on April Fools' Day with it's do-it-yourself Hot Wheels.
2021 Hot Wheels You Do It | Mattel

On Facebook Mattel announced its newest Hot Wheels, saying, “Introducing our kinda’ newish Hot Wheels die-cast, ‘You Do It.’ Complete with pieces you typically see assembled, the ‘You Do It’ takes the hard work out of our hands and puts it in yours.” Best of Luck.

We can’t wait for April 1, 2023, to see what automakers will come up. But, as always, we’ll check our sources.

Related: This Toyota April Fools’ Joke Might Be the Most Credible of All

Related

Elon Musk Says Cybertruck May “Flop;” Doesn’t Care

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Writer - Sedans & Coupes

Dan Mayfield

Dan joined MotorBiscuit in 2022 with over 20 years of experience in journalism and a lifelong passion for anything related to the automotive industry. He grew up wrenching a 1949 Ford pickup truck and an MGB with his dad, learning how not to wire a fuel pump (he inadvertently set the MGB on fire).

After earning a bachelor’s degree in photojournalism from the University of New Mexico, Dan has contributed his expertise to a range of local outlets, including the City of Albuquerque, US Eagle, and the Alliance for Local Economic Prosperity.

On weekends, Dan spends Saturdays enjoying “cars and coffee” chats and, on Sundays, he’s watching the Route 66 Cruise roll through town. He also races motorcycles, and it’s not unusual to find him elbows-deep in his latest cafe racer build.

Taking advantage of the local desert terrain, Dan also enjoys exploring and driving off-road in his trusty Ram Rebel pickup truck, which provides personal insights into his contributions to our Trucks, SUVs, & Crossovers coverage. Dan strives to give our readers unique information about the dynamic automotive market, reading anything that has to do with cars, trucks, bikes, 4X4s, and, in his words, “everything with a motor.”

Dan has earned a number of accolades from the Public Relations Society of America, and is a University of Southern California, Annenberg School of Communication and Journalism Fellow.