The Tesla Cybertruck has earned the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's highest Top Safety Pick+ award for vehicles produced after April 2024. This recognition highlights its strong performance in crash tests, addressing earlier doubts about its safety. However, European regulations pose challenges for the vehicle's future there.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has awarded the Tesla Cybertruck its prestigious Top Safety Pick+ rating, the highest accolade for vehicle safety in the United States. This honor applies to Cybertruck units manufactured after April 2024, following key structural updates including a redesign of the body's lower section and footrest area.
In crash testing, the Cybertruck excelled in several categories. It received 'Good' ratings in front small overlap collisions from both driver and passenger sides, as well as in the frontal overlap test. The side impact test, revised in 2024 to better reflect modern heavy vehicles, also earned a 'Good' score. While rear passenger chest protection in the frontal overlap test was rated 'Acceptable,' the vehicle performed well overall, with strong results for its LED headlights, pedestrian collision avoidance system, and child seat anchors.
Tesla highlighted this achievement on social media, taking a jab at critic Matt Farah, who had previously claimed the Cybertruck would fail safety tests. The award counters skepticism about the vehicle's angular design and its ability to absorb impacts.
Despite this success in the US, where testing emphasizes passenger protection amid a market dominated by trucks and SUVs, the Cybertruck faces hurdles in Europe. Regulations from UNECE and Euro NCAP prioritize pedestrian and cyclist safety, requiring deformable fronts to absorb energy. The Cybertruck's rigid stainless steel panels and sharp edges conflict with these standards.
André Thierig, Tesla's factory manager in Grünheide, Germany, expressed doubt about the model's viability there, stating he does not envision significant numbers of Cybertrucks on European roads. One unit is registered in Germany via special permit with modifications, but Tesla has cautioned against expecting widespread availability. This underscores broader differences in safety philosophies between the US and Europe, where the latter focuses more on vulnerable road users.
