Automotive News Europe — 2024-01-11
Automotive Industry
Tesla’s Cybertruck, the EV maker’s most anticipated model in years, would face challenges to be homologated in Europe, experts said.
The angular pickup, which Tesla has launched in North America at a starting price of about $61,000, would need to meet EU regulations on pedestrian safety and charging compatibility, as well as driver’s license limitations because of the weight of some versions.
Critics have pointed to the Cybertruck’s sharp-edged design as a particular danger.
"We hope Tesla don't bring this vehicle to Europe. A vehicle of this size, power and huge weight will be lethal to pedestrians and cyclists in a collision," the Brussels-based nonprofit European Transport Safety Council said in a statement, according to Reuters.
Tesla has not disclosed if it plans to sell the Cybertruck in Europe. The company did not respond to a request for comment. Elon Musk, Tesla’s CEO, has said that the Cybertruck would be less dangerous for pedestrian than other trucks.
Pedro Pacheco, an analyst with Gartner in Germany, said that European regulations to ensure that pedestrians’ heads and legs are protected in case of a collision are stricter than those in the US.
"There are many aspects of regulation to be done in terms of crash test protection for pedestrians," Pacheco told Automotive News Europe. "There's been a lot written that the Cybertruck cannot comply with pedestrian protection regulations."
Pacheco said the Cybertruck’s stainless-steel skin is more rigid than conventional sheet steel body panels, and does not deform in the same way. "If someone hits their head or upper torso against a panel with that steel, it absolutely will not bend like normal steel," he said.
He said that Tesla could take steps to mitigate danger, for example by installing a collapsible hood that would lift to enable better deformation of that body panel.
"They could also replace the frontal panels instead of using the stainless steel -- they can use normal steel because they're not structural elements," he said. "Technically speaking, there is a way to do it if Tesla wishes so, but it's all speculation until you do an actual test."
Another issue is charging cable compatibility. While Tesla's US -made Cybertrucks work with the company's NAC charging standard, it is incompatible with Europe's CCS network, which Pacheco said would require Tesla to modify the charging port to meet EU standards.
"You will just have to change the angle of the socket to make it fit—that's not necessarily a major obstacle," he says.
The Cybertruck’s weight – the dual-motor four-wheel-drive version is over 3.5 tons – could mean that owners would need a specialized license.
Pacheco said Tesla could simply sell lighter versions of the Cybertruck, but it could limit the pickup’s appeal.
In the end, even if the Cybertruck manages to meet EU regulations in those areas — as well as other rules on lighting and braking distance, for example -- the market for the nearly six-meter-long (20 feet) truck is likely to be limited, Pacheco said.
"There is a huge difference in the size of your average street or parking spot in the US in comparison to Europe," he said. "Driving a vehicle of this size in Europe is hard, so the market is very small."
A small but growing number of full-size pickups from Stellantis (Ram), Ford and General Motors (Chevrolet/GMC) are exported to Europe each year through Individual Vehicle Approval (IVA) regulations, but the European pickup market is oriented toward one-ton models such as the Toyota Hilux or Ford Ranger that are considered midsize in the US.
Critics have called on the EU to end the IVA exemption, saying that the big pickups excessively pollute, endanger other motorists and are a danger to pedestrians.
Long road to production
Tesla first showed the Cybertruck in 2019, with Musk touting its unconventional design and claiming it was “bulletproof” against certain types of damage – then watched as a steel ball smashed through the driver’s side window during the unveiling.
Tesla revised its projected timelines for Cybertruck production multiple times, as the vehicle faced regulatory and production challenges for its stainless steel panels and “exoskeleton.”
Initially aiming for a 2021 release, the company adjusted expectations, pushing the timeline to 2022. After more delays, serial production had begun by November 2023.
The Cybertruck is selling for $60,990 for the base-rear-wheel drive version — a big price hike from the original plan. Deliveries for that model will start in 2025. Other pricing includes: