The Amber electric car prototype from Moscow Polytechnic goes viral and spurs memes
Socialbites.ca reports that an image of Moscow Polytechnic’s Amber electric car prototype spread widely on social networks and became the subject of numerous memes. The snapshot captured public imagination and sparked a stream of commentary and creative edits across platforms.
One widely shared meme frames the Amber as the hero of the “It’s Afraid” joke, drawing a parallel with a scene from the film Starship Troopers. Observers also compared the prototype’s design to the striking Alenka sculpture in Novovoronezh, and many jokes played with the inscription “Tests” that appeared on the front of the car instead of a traditional license plate. These visual cues helped the image travel far beyond its original purpose, turning a technical prototype into internet culture fodder.
Users left remarks reacting to electricity tariffs, designer choices in Russia, and even personal quips such as a grandmother’s greenhouse anecdote. The comments reflect a mix of astonishment, humor, and skepticism about the realities of automotive design and energy costs in the country, illustrating how a single prototype can become a vessel for broader conversations about technology, policy, and everyday life.
The Amber prototype, showcased at Moscow Polytechnic University, served as a test platform for a project commissioned by Kaliningrad Avtotor under a contract with the Ministry of Industry and Trade. The current prototype is understood to be a development phase; the final product is expected to adopt a revised design. Notably, early build elements include components derived from the Lada Vesta body in the construction of the test vehicle, indicating a pragmatic approach to using existing platforms in early iterations.
Background context notes there has been public discussion about Russian spending on new cars in 2023, highlighting how policy, industry investment, and consumer sentiment intersect in the automotive sector. The unfolding Amber project appears within a broader narrative of domestic innovation and the challenges of scaling electric vehicle production in the region.