Tesla Cybertruck’s Design Raises Safety Concerns Among Experts

Tesla’s latest offering, the Cybertruck, with its stark angular design and stainless-steel exoskeleton, has sparked a debate among safety experts over its impact on pedestrian and cyclist safety. Reuters interviewed six safety professors and officials who reviewed Tesla’s own crash test videos, raising questions about the truck’s rigidity and potential harm in accidents. Adrian Lund, former president of the IIHS, highlighted concerns that the truck’s stiff exterior could cause more severe injuries in collisions with pedestrians.

The Cybertruck’s design deviates significantly from traditional vehicles, employing flat planes and sharp edges reminiscent of the DeLorean. During its launch in Austin, Texas, Tesla emphasized the truck’s impact-absorbing structures, but experts like George Washington University’s Samer Hamdar pointed out the limited crumple zones, a critical feature for absorbing crash energy. Tesla CEO Elon Musk, confident in the vehicle’s safety, has yet to respond to these concerns.

With Tesla’s Cybertruck set to hit a production rate of 250,000 by 2025, its entry into the market raises important questions about vehicle safety standards. Particularly, the heavy weight and high acceleration of the truck have been identified as potential risks for pedestrians and cyclists. Regulatory differences between the U.S. and Europe, where EU safety rules emphasize pedestrian protection, might pose challenges for the Cybertruck’s market entry in Europe. The U.S. relies on vehicle makers for self-testing, with Musk confirming the truck’s compliance with safety standards, but the debate over its safety for those outside the vehicle continues.