Photo: u/boddhya via Reddit, @WholeMarsBlog via X
As the first Tesla Cybertruck was involved in a crash, people are again questioning its safety. Based on the pictures of the accident, the Cybertruck looks almost intact, while the other car is pretty much destroyed. Thankfully, nobody got hurt this time.
Ever since Tesla showed off the Cybertruck's strange design, people wondered how this angular shape would behave in a crash. With the toughness of its stainless steel skin and almost no apparent crumple zone, many wondered if the Cybertruck would act like a sledgehammer on wheels for other road users. There are no official crash test results to answer this question, and Tesla has been mostly quiet about Cybertruck's crashworthiness.
Although there are no NHTSA or IIHS crash tests to show us how safe the Cybertruck is, Tesla still had to demonstrate that the pickup met Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards before it was allowed to be sold to customers. To do that, Tesla provided its own crash-test results to the authorities. We've spotted several Cybertruck prototypes crash-tested over the summer, so we know Tesla did its best to ensure the Cybertruck is as safe as possible.
During the Cybertruck Delivery Day on November 30, the EV maker shared a couple of videos from these crash tests, again raising questions about the seemingly non-existent front crumple zone. Tesla replied on Cybertruck's official X account, "It's not about the size of your crumple zone, it's about how you use it." It explained that the front underbody megacasting is designed to break into small pieces to absorb and disperse the energy of impact.
However reassuring this sounds, we still have to wait to see some actual crashes involving the Cybertruck before concluding. This is unfortunate, but because of the lack of independent crash tests, real-world crashes will set the tone of public discussions. And since car accidents are an everyday occurrence, it didn't take long before the first Cybertruck got into one.
According to police reports, the accident was caused by a Toyota Corolla driver who, for unknown reasons, "turned to the right and subsequently struck a dirt embankment on the right shoulder. The Toyota then re-entered the roadway, crossed over the double yellow lines into the northbound lane, and crashed into a Tesla Cybertruck traveling north on SR-35 northbound."
The police report also mentions that the Cybertruck driver sustained a "suspected minor injury," although they declined medical transportation. No other injuries were reported, which means the Corolla's driver was in better shape, despite the pictures from the scene showing that their car sustained more substantial damage than the Cybertruck.
Based on the photos, this was a "partial offset" impact, with the driver's side of each vehicle the most affected. The Corolla looks worse, which is expected considering that the Cybertruck is twice as heavy. The Cybertruck has the left-side airbags deployed, but we don't have a clear view from the front left side to analyze the damage. From the rear, it appears that the stainless steel skin held up pretty well, although this sure looks like a totaled vehicle from an insurance company's perspective.
It's unclear whether this is a customer vehicle or not, but it lacks the Foundation Series badge etched on the front fender. It sure sucks to be one of the first to take delivery of a Cybertruck and have it totaled within days. Even if repairs would be possible, it would take like forever to get the parts, while a replacement Cybertruck might not be available for years.
Although there are no NHTSA or IIHS crash tests to show us how safe the Cybertruck is, Tesla still had to demonstrate that the pickup met Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards before it was allowed to be sold to customers. To do that, Tesla provided its own crash-test results to the authorities. We've spotted several Cybertruck prototypes crash-tested over the summer, so we know Tesla did its best to ensure the Cybertruck is as safe as possible.
During the Cybertruck Delivery Day on November 30, the EV maker shared a couple of videos from these crash tests, again raising questions about the seemingly non-existent front crumple zone. Tesla replied on Cybertruck's official X account, "It's not about the size of your crumple zone, it's about how you use it." It explained that the front underbody megacasting is designed to break into small pieces to absorb and disperse the energy of impact.
However reassuring this sounds, we still have to wait to see some actual crashes involving the Cybertruck before concluding. This is unfortunate, but because of the lack of independent crash tests, real-world crashes will set the tone of public discussions. And since car accidents are an everyday occurrence, it didn't take long before the first Cybertruck got into one.
According to police reports, the accident was caused by a Toyota Corolla driver who, for unknown reasons, "turned to the right and subsequently struck a dirt embankment on the right shoulder. The Toyota then re-entered the roadway, crossed over the double yellow lines into the northbound lane, and crashed into a Tesla Cybertruck traveling north on SR-35 northbound."
The police report also mentions that the Cybertruck driver sustained a "suspected minor injury," although they declined medical transportation. No other injuries were reported, which means the Corolla's driver was in better shape, despite the pictures from the scene showing that their car sustained more substantial damage than the Cybertruck.
Based on the photos, this was a "partial offset" impact, with the driver's side of each vehicle the most affected. The Corolla looks worse, which is expected considering that the Cybertruck is twice as heavy. The Cybertruck has the left-side airbags deployed, but we don't have a clear view from the front left side to analyze the damage. From the rear, it appears that the stainless steel skin held up pretty well, although this sure looks like a totaled vehicle from an insurance company's perspective.
It's unclear whether this is a customer vehicle or not, but it lacks the Foundation Series badge etched on the front fender. It sure sucks to be one of the first to take delivery of a Cybertruck and have it totaled within days. Even if repairs would be possible, it would take like forever to get the parts, while a replacement Cybertruck might not be available for years.
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