The Tesla Cybertruck is taking the US roads by storm, but is getting a far less enthusiastic reception in Europe. The electric pickup truck has been criticized by several European road safety organizations for its design and size after it was registered by a private owner in the Czech Republic.
The criticism was contained in an open letter to the Czech Transport Minister jointly authored by the European Transport Safety Council, Eurocities, Cities and Regions for Transport Innovation, the International Federation of Pedestrians, and others.
In the letter, the Cybertruck was dinged for its weight, which the group contends could have been lawfully approved as a light-duty goods vehicle. Tesla rates the truck as 4 tonnes but registered it as a maximum of 3.5 tonnes with the Czech authorities.
The truck’s crash absorption was also deemed as non-existent or inadequate, “The Cybertruck’s non-existent or inadequate crash absorption brings unacceptably high risks to all other road users. Due to the self-certification system which operates in the US, the Cybertruck has never been crash-tested by any public authority.”
The group also pointed out that individual buyers could use the Czech Republic to bypass EU regulations and import trucks to the body’s member states. One owner was identified as having driven the truck into Slovakia.
The letter calls for the registration to be reassessed and an explanation for the alleged inaccuracies.
Meanwhile, Tesla will soon start Canadian Cybertruck deliveries as the first customers report being assigned Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs).
You can read the full letter below.
2024-10-07-Cybertrucks-IVA-letter-to-Minister-Kupka-1
