Tesla Ends Seven-Year Wait by Returning Cybertruck Deposits

Tesla is returning $2,000 to customers in Australia and New Zealand who reserved a Cybertruck seven years ago. The electric vehicle maker confirmed that the truck will not reach those markets. It will send emails to reservation holders confirming the decision. The company will refund all deposits within 30 days of that confirmation email.

In the message to buyers, Tesla stated that its plans to produce the Cybertruck for the region have been discontinued. The firm could no longer fulfill the orders. As a concession, Tesla is offering one year of free Full Self-Driving (Supervised) access. This offer applies to anyone who orders a new Model 3 or Model Y.

The root of the issue is the vehicle's design. The Cybertruck is built with the steering wheel on the left. The Texas factory that builds the truck is not set up to create a right-hand drive version. This configuration is standard in the United States but not in Australia or New Zealand.

This limitation affects several other countries. The truck cannot legally drive on public roads in the United Kingdom, Japan, or Ireland without a right-hand drive setup. Tesla has not officially launched the vehicle in the European Union. European authorities have not granted it regulatory approval.

Regulators in Europe have specific concerns about the truck's shape. The vehicle features sharp edges and a stiff stainless-steel body. These features raise safety questions regarding pedestrians and other vulnerable road users. Rules covering crumple zones, lighting, and weight classifications also pose hurdles for approval.

The US Army has noted these same issues. The US Army Customs Agency issued a notification regarding Cybertrucks entering the region. It stated that the sharp-edged body violates EU safety standards. The agency highlighted the need to protect people on the road who may be struck by the vehicle.

Some Cybertrucks are already on European roads. Owners have secured single-vehicle approvals to drive the trucks. They did so by making specific modifications to the vehicles. These changes were designed to satisfy local regulators and allow the trucks to pass inspection.