Tesla Cybertruck gets pushback in Europe, increasing need for ‘international’ version

Credit: Tesla

Tesla Cybertruck is getting some pushback in Europe as several safety campaigners are attempting to have the vehicle banned from the continent due to safety concerns related to the pickup’s design.

The issue only brings forth the importance of Tesla developing what it has recognized as an “international” version of the truck, one that would be more suitable for the market.

Groups like the European Transport Safety Council and the European Cyclists’ Foundation are pushing for the Cybertruck’s accessibility to public streets to be suspended.

One country where this is especially being pushed is the Czech Republic because a buyer in the country has been able to get the vehicle registered after making several design changes to alleviate safety concerns.

The owner made some of the changes by adding rubber slats to the sharpest points of the Cybertruck.

The groups wrote a letter to the Transport Minister of the Czech Republic, Martin Kupka, saying the Cybertruck poses an “illegal risk to all other road users.”

They also said the vehicle’s angular design, which features sharp edges and corners, would “exacerbate injury severity and death rates.”

To be fair, the Cybertruck’s design could potentially cause injury if someone were to come in contact with the corners or edges. However, any vehicle that hits a pedestrian or cyclist is likely going to cause injury. It’s a vehicle hitting a person, and it’s hard to avoid injury if you’re on the receiving end.

Another argument the group brought forth was the Cybertruck’s gross weight, which, according to the automaker, ranges from 8,834 pounds to 9,169 pounds.

The weight limit for a light-duty vehicle in Europe, for which the campaigners allege the vehicle had been approved, is 3.5 tonnes, or 7,000 pounds. They say the Cybertruck that was approved in the Czech Republic was able to be driven by “a loophole.”

However, owner Norton Slovak, whose company Cybertruck.cz has the vehicle, said the weight calculations “may not fully reflect how these regulations are applied or interpreted by Czech authorities,” according to The Guardian, who first reported the story.

Whether Tesla will combat these arguments with a new, smaller, and more compact version of the Cybertruck remains to be seen.

Musk has hinted that the company needs a different version for that market, which could help tap some demand for the truck with a more suitable design.

I’d love to hear from you! If you have any comments, concerns, or questions, please email me at joey@teslarati.com. You can also reach me on Twitter @KlenderJoey, or if you have news tips, you can email us at tips@teslarati.com.

Joey Klender: Joey has been a journalist covering electric mobility at TESLARATI since August 2019. In his time at TESLARATI, Joey has broken several big stories, including the first images of the Tesla Model S Plaid, the imminent release of the 4680 Model Y through EPA certification, and several expansions to the Lucid AMP-1 factory in Arizona, to name a few. His stories have been featured in several publications, including Yahoo! Finance, Fox News, CNET, and Seeking Alpha. In his spare time, Joey is playing golf, watching MMA, or cheering on any of his favorite sports teams, including the Baltimore Ravens and Orioles, Miami Heat, Washington Capitals, and Penn State Nittany Lions. You can get in touch with joey at joey@teslarati.com. He is also on Twitter @KlenderJoey.
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