Will the Tesla Cybertruck Be Banned in Europe?
Will the Tesla Cybertruck Be Banned in Europe?
The Tesla Cybertruck first hit US streets in November 2023, providing a futuristic, eco-friendly twist on the pickup truck.
Inspired by the movie Blade Runner, the contemporary vehicle has been built with durability in mind, as it has a sleek stainless-steel exterior, an electronically adaptive suspension, and can tow up to 11,000 pounds.
The forward-thinking vehicle has been praised as a technical marvel, as it offers all the benefits of a pickup truck but the handling of a sports car while reducing an owner’s carbon footprint. It can even power an owner’s home following an outage.
Despite its many benefits, the Tesla Cybertruck might never become a staple on various European streets due to its sharp edges, potential safety problems, and large size.
Read on to learn if the Tesla Cybertruck is likely to be banned in Europe.
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Safety Concerns May Stop the Cybertruck
Many transport campaigners have raised the alarm about the Tesla Cybertruck, believing the design is too sharp and oversized for European streets.
The EU has strict road safety rules for vehicles, as sharp edges that may increase the rate of injury and deaths on the road are prohibited. Due to the electric pickup truck’s angular design, there are calls for Tesla to develop an international version, making the Cybertruck more suitable for the European market.
However, it is not only the exterior that may pose a threat, as vehicles that weigh more than 3.5 tonnes when full will need speed limiters.
Despite campaigners’ concerns, the Cybertruck appeared on European roads in 2024, with people importing the vehicle from North America into Europe.
For this reason, campaigners have written a letter to the European Commission and Czech Republic authorities to remove EU-registered Cybertrucks off the roads.
The Risk of Large Vehicles on the Road
There are concerns the Cybertruck could increase the risk of serious injuries or death on European roads. Large, heavy cars have a greater likelihood of killing people in a collision compared to small vehicles.
According to a recent study, a 10cm increase in a vehicle’s front-end height would increase the risk of a pedestrian fatality by 22%, and it could significantly reduce the survival chances of women, children, and seniors.
Ongoing Safety Problems in the US
In addition to potentially increasing the risk of injury or fatalities on European roads, campaigners are concerned about the ongoing safety problems the Cybertruck has had since it first entered the market.
For instance, Tesla was forced to recall all Cybertrucks in April due to accelerator pedal malfunctions. Also, there have been reports that vehicles have become stuck in dirt, snow, and sand, and some owners have reported their electric pickup trucks stopped running altogether.
What’s more, Tesla has received complaints that the stainless-steel exterior is rusting, and even Musk’s “bulletproof” car’s window was broken by a steel ball.
The European Commission’s Response
The European Commission has responded to campaigners’ pleas by stating it would need to gather additional information on the safety measures and national requirements to assess the Cybertruck registration.
A decision will likely be made after it discusses the topic with member states’ approval authorities.
Depending on the outcome, Tesla might have no choice but to adapt the Cybertruck to enter the European market. For instance, it could develop a smaller, more compact version of the electric pickup truck with fewer sharp edges.