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I remember when Prius came out. There was a ton of buzz in the automotive world about it. The controversy, the hype, the sheer idea of having one seemed crazy. Then people began to own them. From that time on, these people became "Prius owners."

I have the same feeling that this new Telsa Cybertruck is going to bring a whole new meaning to the very definition of ownership, much in the same way Prius has. Here is why.

Thought 1, You Did Something Controversial
Think about Prius when it came out. It was different. It was a gasoline-electric car that reeked of "eco-friendly" everything.

Car guys hated it, environmentalists loved it, and the general public was undecided about what to do with it. The car created a big enough ruckus, that when more people began owning them, they became stereotyped as "Prius owners."

Cybertruck people are going to have to go through a similar stereotype. The truck, if you can call it that, is a joke to some, a "must-have" to others, and yet the general population does not know what to do with it. The question is, though, what memes are going to come about once the people start owning them?

What are we going to call these people? Cybertruckies? If the Diesel Brothers own one, will they be called Cyberbros? There are just so many things that we could call these people. As luck would have it, though, the internet will let that evolve, so soon enough we will have a name for them.

Any way you slice it, these people are creating a movement just like Prius people did when those cars came into our lives. These people are doing something controversial. That is how I know Cybertruck owners will step into the Prius limelight, at least for a season.

Thought 2, Owning One Says Something About You
When I think of a Prius owner, I think of this. Owns a pet, probably eats granola, meditates regularly, more than likely goes to Hot Yoga, and possibly does not shave. The funny thing is, not one of those things fit me, and I own a Prius.

So what does owning a Prius say about you? It says nothing; it is what other people think about you because of the car you own. Just ask my father in law or my uncle. Both of them would rather be dead than ride in or own a Prius. Why though? It is just a car. It is like any other mode of transportation.

I would bet that once Cybertrucks start rolling off the lines, there will be the haters, the naysayers, the ooglers, and of course, the opposers. Really what I think it comes down to is that deep down inside, the people who hate on the Prius and the Cybertruck are just a tinge bit jealous. They cannot get over themselves enough to embrace the wonderful world of technology. That is just my take on the situation, though.

Conclusion
It does not matter what you own; people will call you what they will. I drive a Prius because they are cheap, practical vehicles that do absolutely everything that I need them to. They get excellent fuel economy, they hardly ever break down, and if they do, it is a snap to fix them.

I have to admit; I am probably going to put down a reservation for a Cybertruck. I honestly think I want to brag to people about it more than anything. Like "yeah, I reserved my Cybertruck because, blah, blah, blah." Plus, I want to see the reactions from people when I do.

The Cybertruck has created a huge stir just like Prius has. For that, they are entitled to own the scene for now.

Thanks for reading, I hope you are having a great weekend enjoying the time off work, or just hanging out with friends and family. Please be sure to check out my other story, The Real Reasons Toyota Discontinued The Prius C.

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Peter Neilson is an automotive consultant specializing in electric cars and hybrid battery technologies. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Automotive Service Technology from Weber State University. Peter is also an Instructor of Automotive Technology at Columbia Basin College. Peter can be reached on Linkedin and you can tweet him at The_hybrid_guy on Twitter. Find his page on Facebook at Certified Auto Consulting