New Tesla Cybertruck may never make it to British roads despite 450-mile electric range
Deliveries of the Tesla Cybertruck started at the end of November
TESLA
Tesla finally began delivering its wildly anticipated Cybertruck last month, but some experts have suggested that European drivers may not get their hands on the massive pick-up truck.
The Elon Musk-led brand has arguably been the heavyweight of electric vehicles in recent years, having massive success with its smart and sleek EVs.
Many were surprised to see the brand move from a relatively modest, slimmed down range of vehicles when the Cybertruck was unveiled in 2019, with Musk showing off a boxy, steel-clad truck.
The Cybertruck was originally promised to start at a price point of $40,000 (around £32,000) as well as a range of over 500 miles – despite weighing more than 2.5 tonnes.
Tesla has not commented on the UK or EU availability of the Cybertruck
REUTERS
However, some drivers have been put off by the finished product, with prices starting from $79,990 (£66,000) for the dual-motor car with all-wheel drive and a range of around 340 miles.
The so-called three-motor “Cyberbeast” with a range extender will see drivers get around 440 miles from the battery, with this believing to cost more than $100,000 (£80,000).
The Cybertruck still has a considerable backlog of orders from the United States, with drivers in Europe waiting on any updates about the bulletproof truck’s availability.
There are also fears that the vehicles will never be seen in the UK or Europe because of strict safety laws.
Speaking to Top Gear Netherlands, Lars Maravy, Vice President of Vehicle Engineering at Tesla, suggested that Cybertrucks would face enormous issues with getting the vehicles to the UK.
He said: “First of all, the market for pick-ups in America is huge, and that is different with you. And two: European regulations require a rounding of 3.2 millimetres on protruding parts.
The heaviest Cybertruck tips the scales at 3,100kg
TESLA
“Unfortunately, it is impossible to make a rounding of 3.2 millimetres on a 1.4 millimetre sheet of stainless steel.”
The top-of-the-line Cyberbeast model weighs a staggering 3,100kg with a further 2,500kg available as the payload, it could be too heavy for many drivers to legally get behind the wheel.
The majority of drivers have a standard driving licence, allowing them to drive a vehicle up to a maximum gross weight of 3,500kg, which would add an additional headache for motorists.
In 2021, Elon Musk said that side mirrors were required by law to be on the vehicle but “designed to be easy to remove by owners”, which poses further questions about restrictions.
Mat Watson, Chief Content Officer at Carwow, was given the chance to experience the Cybertruck in Austin, Texas at the Tesla Gigafactory.
In a video of the interaction, Mat can be seen interacting with the steel structure, kicking the tyres and hitting the boot to prove how durable the Cybertruck is.
He said: "It's kind of a madness just being next to it for the very first time; the actual car that will go to customers.
“It's not been changed since the original concept was shown four years ago; stainless steel body panels which are bulletproof against 9mm or 45mm calibre rounds - it's crazy!"
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Tesla said the Cybertruck could have a towing capacity of 4,990kg
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The Cybertruck has caused some level of controversy since its original unveiling in 2019 when vehicle designer Franz von Holzhausen, aimed to demonstrate how the glass windows were virtually unbreakable.
As part of the test, von Holzhausen threw a metal ball into the window, resulting in two windows shattering, prompting Elon Musk to chuckle in embarrassment.