The Cybertruck has been a source of controversy ever since its debut in 2023. While the truck initially gathered interest due to its futuristic and unique geometric design, safety concerns and constant recalls have forced Tesla to go back to the drawing board. Most recently, controversy in the European market over the truck has been a major setback for the electric vehicle giant. While the car has maintained a high safety ranking on American soil, the same cannot be said across the pond.
The Cybertruck’s much-anticipated wait
The buildup to the release of the Cybertruck was a long-anticipated journey. The vehicle was initially announced in 2019 in Los Angeles, where a live demonstration of the truck’s “armor glass” cracking when hit with a metal ball. The video subsequently went on to become a vital meme on the internet. After the launch event, Tesla received over 200,000 reservations for the futuristic truck.
The truck was initially scheduled for a 2021 release. However, it faced significant delays on account of supply chain problems related to the COVID-19 pandemic, with Tesla CEO Elon Musk stating they were navigating a “supply chain hell”. In addition to this, the vehicle also faced engineering-related problems during its development.
Tesla finally began limited production of the vehicles in May of 2023, with July of that same year seeing the first Cybertruck roll off the assembly line. In 2024, Tesla continued to face production challenges, with Tesla underselling the original number they had anticipated in the first quarter. For this year, Tesla has aimed to produce over 250,000 Cybertruck vehicles.
Safety concerns over the Cybertruck in Europe
After a long wait filled with delays and challenges, the Cybertruck has finally made it onto the road. However, it continues to face backlash regarding its controversial design, particularly in the European market. The European road safety organization, in July of last year, wrote an open letter to Czech Transport Minister Martin Kupka to allow the authorization of a Cybertruck to be imported and used on public roads in the Czech Republic.
In addition to this, a Cybertruck was recently suspended in the UK, also over safety concerns. Tesla’s struggle to penetrate the European market is a significant challenge to the company, one that will most likely force the company to make mass changes to the vehicles. While the truck has passed all vehicle inspections and safety standards on US roads, it has, however, continued to face challenges regarding vehicle specifics.
Cybertruck failures are bad news for Tesla
In addition to the safety concerns raised in Europe, Tesla continues to face multiple setbacks, which reached a pinnacle point this month when the company recalled all vehicles over malfunctions with the accelerator pedal. In light of this, Tesla has reportedly cancelled and/or stalled incoming orders. While vehicle recalls are not uncommon, the Cybertruck has been recalled eight times despite only being on the road for less than two years.
“This is another black eye for Tesla, which has added to the chaos going on for Musk,” said Dan Ives, senior equity analyst at Wedbush Securities. “Cybertruck is the pedestal moment and a recall out of the gates is a bad look.”
Last month, Tesla announced a recall of 46,000 Cybertrucks due to the exterior panels detaching while driving. While Tesla continues to be the favored electric vehicle on the road, these setbacks by the company are not good for the reputation of company, especially in light of rising competition from Chinese electric vehicle producer BYD. These incidents may raise questions about quality control and the company’s ability to meet high expectations as it expands its vehicle lineup for consumers.
