Photo: @EstherKokkelman, @mortenlund89 via X
People started noticing trailers hauling Tesla Cybertrucks across several European countries, as the EV maker wants to promote the electric pickup worldwide. However, the promo tour will not end with local homologation and sales start, as people might think. Tesla explained that it would be difficult to meet European regulations given the thick stainless steel exoskeleton.
People all over the world are undoubtedly excited about the Cybertruck, although Tesla might never sell it outside North America. The electric pickup truck has polarized fans with its outlandish design. Tesla's detractors have also mocked it as one of the ugliest vehicles ever built. However, it's also the first pickup truck that celebrities think it's cool enough to have. Many paid over $200,000 to skip the line and get the coveted Cybertruck ahead of everyone else.
Despite all the critics, there are over a million reservations for the Cybertruck, and your chance to buy one might not come this decade. Tesla started deliveries with its own employees and influencers before moving to celebrities. It is now prioritizing long-time Tesla investors, so it might take a while before regular folks will be invited to take delivery of a Cybertruck. Tesla just surpassed the 1,000-unit weekly production milestone, which is still far from volume production targets.
Tesla currently sells the Cybertruck only in the US, although Canadian customers can also place a reservation without being able to choose their configuration. European customers can only learn about the Cybertruck but cannot make a reservation, despite Tesla's promise in 2019. However, as many Tesla fans all over the world have been raving about the Cybertruck, Tesla agreed that it should let anyone experience the pickup truck firsthand.
Even if not sold in other regions, the Cybertruck could still act like a rolling billboard for Tesla, attracting customers and boosting brand awareness. This is why Tesla is touring the Cybertruck worldwide, starting with Europe and the Middle East. There are over 100 locations where people will be able to see the Cybertruck with their own eyes by the end of July.
Several Cybertrucks are involved in this promo tour, so people have started seeing them on the back of trailers in different countries. Most recently, the Cybertruck has been spotted in Denmark, probably heading to Sweden and Norway, where the Cybertruck will be displayed between May 3-5 (in Stockholm) and May 4-7 (in Oslo). Other Cybertrucks were spotted in Belgium earlier this week, which seems fitting for the events in Italy starting May 3.
Although seeing the Cybertruck in a nearby city sounds exciting, don't think that Tesla will ever sell it to Europe. The regulations will make it nearly impossible to homologate on the Old Continent. Wes Morrill, Tesla Cybertruck lead engineer, explained that meeting UN ECE regulations will be difficult. Wes referred to the provisions regarding the body part edges, which are too thin to meet the rules but too thick to hem.
Specifically, UN ECE Reg. 26 section 5.4 mandates that no protruding part of the external surface shall have a radius of curvature less than 2.5 mm (one-tenth of an inch). Since the Cybertruck body panels are made of stainless steel sheets that are 1.8 mm thick, meeting European regulations would require important changes in manufacturing. Wes thinks this could be challenging, although not impossible.
Official homologation might not be possible for now, but there are already Cybertruck owners in Europe. One was sold recently in Germany, while others were spotted in Russia and Belarus. We have no doubt that wealthy Middle East Cybertruck fans have also found ways to import the electric pickup.
Despite all the critics, there are over a million reservations for the Cybertruck, and your chance to buy one might not come this decade. Tesla started deliveries with its own employees and influencers before moving to celebrities. It is now prioritizing long-time Tesla investors, so it might take a while before regular folks will be invited to take delivery of a Cybertruck. Tesla just surpassed the 1,000-unit weekly production milestone, which is still far from volume production targets.
Tesla currently sells the Cybertruck only in the US, although Canadian customers can also place a reservation without being able to choose their configuration. European customers can only learn about the Cybertruck but cannot make a reservation, despite Tesla's promise in 2019. However, as many Tesla fans all over the world have been raving about the Cybertruck, Tesla agreed that it should let anyone experience the pickup truck firsthand.
Even if not sold in other regions, the Cybertruck could still act like a rolling billboard for Tesla, attracting customers and boosting brand awareness. This is why Tesla is touring the Cybertruck worldwide, starting with Europe and the Middle East. There are over 100 locations where people will be able to see the Cybertruck with their own eyes by the end of July.
Several Cybertrucks are involved in this promo tour, so people have started seeing them on the back of trailers in different countries. Most recently, the Cybertruck has been spotted in Denmark, probably heading to Sweden and Norway, where the Cybertruck will be displayed between May 3-5 (in Stockholm) and May 4-7 (in Oslo). Other Cybertrucks were spotted in Belgium earlier this week, which seems fitting for the events in Italy starting May 3.
Although seeing the Cybertruck in a nearby city sounds exciting, don't think that Tesla will ever sell it to Europe. The regulations will make it nearly impossible to homologate on the Old Continent. Wes Morrill, Tesla Cybertruck lead engineer, explained that meeting UN ECE regulations will be difficult. Wes referred to the provisions regarding the body part edges, which are too thin to meet the rules but too thick to hem.
Specifically, UN ECE Reg. 26 section 5.4 mandates that no protruding part of the external surface shall have a radius of curvature less than 2.5 mm (one-tenth of an inch). Since the Cybertruck body panels are made of stainless steel sheets that are 1.8 mm thick, meeting European regulations would require important changes in manufacturing. Wes thinks this could be challenging, although not impossible.
Official homologation might not be possible for now, but there are already Cybertruck owners in Europe. One was sold recently in Germany, while others were spotted in Russia and Belarus. We have no doubt that wealthy Middle East Cybertruck fans have also found ways to import the electric pickup.
UN ECE reg 26 section 5.4 is a bit challenging to meet with panels that are 1.8mm thick. Too thin for a normal edge radius to meet the spec and too thick to hem. It's not impossible to solve... pic.twitter.com/Q9WY2ZOSNF
— Wes (@wmorrill3) May 2, 2024
Google News