Elon Musk, known for his innovative ventures like Tesla and SpaceX, has a reputation for embedding humor in his work. The "S3XY" acronym is tied to Tesla's car models—Model S, Model 3, Model X, and Model Y—forming a playful sequence. It appears Musk originally wanted to name them S, E, X, Y to spell "SEXY," but Ford's trademark on "Model E" led to "Model 3," resulting in "S3XY" instead. This naming choice has been celebrated by fans but also debated for its suggestive tone.
Beyond Cars: "S3XY" in Branding
Musk's use of "S3XY" extends to products like Tesla's "S3XY" shorts, priced at $69.420, which sold out quickly and crashed the website. These shorts, featuring "S3XY" across the back, were a jab at Tesla's stock short-sellers, blending humor with marketing. This reflects Musk's broader affinity for the letter "X," seen in SpaceX and the rebranding of X (formerly Twitter) to "X."