Building on its 2025 IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award, the Tesla Cybertruck is now the only pickup truck to earn both an IIHS Top Safety Pick+ and NHTSA 5-star rating amid stricter 2026 safety standards, according to Elon Musk and the official Cybertruck account.
Elon Musk posted on March 24, 2026, on social media: 'Tesla Cybertruck is the only pickup to be awarded top safety+.' The official Cybertruck account added: 'As standards got tougher in 2026, Cybertruck is the only pickup with both an IIHS Top Safety Pick+ Award AND NHTSA 5-star safety rating.'
This dual recognition from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) highlights the Cybertruck's strong performance in updated crash tests and safety evaluations. No other pickup has achieved this combination under the more stringent 2026 criteria.
The achievement follows the Cybertruck's earlier IIHS Top Safety Pick+ for 2025 models (announced December 2025), reinforcing Tesla's emphasis on safety amid rising industry standards. For prior coverage, see the series on Tesla Cybertruck safety ratings.