Tesla Cybertruck may never make it to British roads for frustrating reason, experts claim
EXPERTS have warned that Tesla’s new Cybertruck may never make it to British roads for a frustrating reason.
Elon Musk’s flagship brand finally sent out the first orders of the new model this month after four years of hype.
The heavyweight EV has a bulletproof exterior and a reported 450-mile range, but even that not might be enough to struggle through the vast stretch of red tape ahead.
Lars Maravy, Vice President of Vehicle Engineering for Tesla, indicated that the model could face significant issues in cracking the European and UK markets.
Mr Maravy suggested that this was down to a difference in demand trends this side of the Atlantic as well as stringent safety regulations.
He told Top Gear Netherlands: “First of all, the market for pick-ups in America is huge, and that is different with you.
“And two: European regulations require a rounding of 3.2mm on protruding parts.
“Unfortunately, it is impossible to make a rounding of 3.2 millimetres on a 1.4 millimetre sheet of stainless steel.”
The motors whizz was referring to the fact that the Cybertruck is made through Tesla’s “gigacasting” manufacturing process.
This a process by which huge, high-pressure casting machines punch a car’s chassis out of a single sheet of metal, rather than different panels being built separately and assembled.
While it can help to simplify the manufacturing process and boost productivity, as Mr Maravy said it does allow for less detailed refinement.
As such, the Cybertruck’s jagged edges, a staple of its chunky 4×4 design, may not be able to be sufficiently blunted to pass European testing.
Not only that, but the sheer weight of the thing could be an issue.
The range-topping variant, known as the Cyberbeast, has a base weight of £3,100kg and the ability to carry up to £2,500kg of load.
Filling up the pickup section would put it well over the £3,500kg limit for a standard UK driving licence, meaning owners would have to obtain a category C1 licence (a basic HGV licence), which can cost up to £3,000.
It comes after the Cybertruck was filmed beating a Porsche 911 in a drag race, while towing another at the same time.
However, in November it was also seen struggling to make it up a hill at a renowned 4×4 testing track.