The European Transport Safety Council and the European Cyclists' Foundation - organizations whose mission is to protect vulnerable road users - consider the design of the Tesla Cybertruck to be dangerous.
Their main claim is that sharp body edges and corners can significantly increase injuries to pedestrians and cyclists in a collision. Instead of softening the impact, as the rounded shapes of most cars do, the Cybertruck, these organizations say, poses an “illegitimate risk” that increases the severity of injuries and deaths.
And not only that, critics point to the Cybertruck's mass, which Tesla says ranges from 4,000 to 4,150 kg. This significantly exceeds the European limit of 3,500 kg for cars of this category, which is already a violation of the current regulations.
The situation in the Czech Republic illustrates the scale of the problem. Despite the restriction, one buyer was able to register a Cybertruck by making a number of modifications. He put rubber bands on the sharpest edges of the car, trying to reduce the potential damage at least a little.
However, this only confirms the concerns of activists, who have sent a letter to the Minister of Transport of the Czech Republic, Martin Kupke, calling for a complete ban on Cybertruck sales.
Interestingly, the Cybertruck situation raises an important question about the balance between innovative design and safety requirements. Tesla has certainly created a car that attracts attention and sparks debate, but the price of that appeal, according to safety experts, may be too high.