You can wait years for the official Tesla electric pickup truck built on the Semi platform, or you can just grab your angle grinder and hack one today. That was exactly the logic behind Simone Giertz’s latest project. The Swedish video blogger skipped the waitlist and transformed a standard Tesla Model 3 into a working truck, which she dubbed the Truckla.
It’s not the first time Giertz has traded her usual absurd inventions for something slightly more practical. She’s famous for creating a popcorn-distributing helmet and a drone that carries a baby doll. But for this build, she put the gags aside and hired actual specialists to ensure the structural integrity held up.
How the Model 3 Becomes a Truck
The conversion process was brutal but methodical. The team stripped the entire rear section of the bodywork. They cut away the roof above the rear doors and removed the trunk hatch entirely. This left a raw, open shell that needed immediate reinforcement.
To prevent the chassis and body from warping under stress, they installed a custom tubular cage structure behind the front seats. This frame acts as the new backbone for the cargo bed. They also sourced a rear window and partition from a different pickup truck, adapting it to fit just behind the front passenger seats.
The functional upgrades include:
– A roof rack for carrying gear
– A dedicated power outlet for plugging in power tools
The result looks surprisingly clean. It doesn’t look like a hack job. It looks like a purpose-built tool.
Why This Isn’t a Commercial Threat
Gierz has no intention of competing with Tesla’s official lineup. This is a passion project, not a business venture. She’s content with parodying classic truck commercials and claiming the title of the person with the first “Tesla pickup” in the world.
The official Tesla Cybertruck or Semi-based pickup will likely be more refined, safer, and certified for road use in various jurisdictions. The Truckla is a one-off demonstration of what’s possible with the Model 3 platform. It proves the electric architecture can support serious utility work, even if you have to build the bed yourself.
Is this a viable alternative for people who need a truck now? Maybe. Is it a replacement for the official Tesla truck? Absolutely not. But it’s a hell of a lot more fun to watch than a press release.
