“That’s their opinion”: Tesla boss confident Cybertruck can comply for Aussie sale, less confident it will actually be sold here
Commentary on social media that the gargantuan Tesla Cybertruck could not be made compliant with Australian Design Rules [ADRs] and legal for sale here has been dismissed by the EV pioneer’s local management.
There were plenty of questions posed about compliance by readers after EV Central reported in March that the Cybertruck could be on-sale here as soon as 2026.
But Tesla Australia and New Zealand country director Thom Drew was dismissive of those homologation concerns.
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“That’s their opinion,” he told EV Central on the sidelines of the recent Melbourne motor show, where one of several Cybertrucks brought into the country for promotional purposes was on display.
“A lot of those concerns are unfounded around its compliance.
“There is a lot about it that works within the Australian compliance system.
“Are there changes required? That is absolutely part of the discussion with headquarters at the moment.”
The key change to comply with ADRs is the swap from left- to right-hand drive. The vehicle’s steer by wire system has also been raised as potential issue. Lighting will also require local compliance.
One commonly cited handicap is the Cybertruck’s angular shape and its impact on pedestrian safety, but that is not a concern under ADRs.
It could however prove to be an issue under the regime of the ANCAP independent safety body if it was tested.
However, ANCAP doesn’t currently test full-size pick-up trucks. It has signalled plans to do so in the future.
Even if the homologation and compliance issues were resolved, Drew admitted the big challenge would be assembling a business case to sell the Cybertruck profitably in Australia.
There are no reported plans to sell it in other prominent right-hand drive markets such as the UK and Japan.
“I think the consideration we have to make a decision on, as a business, is Australia really the only right-hand drive market where it’s suitable?” Drew said.
“That is obviously part of the consideration for the program.”
For all his enthusiasm for Cybertrucks and rejection of hurdles raised by critics, Drew struck a more cautious note about its local chances than he did in our March report.
“I am not confident it’s coming, but we are discussing it,” he said.
“Locally, we want to see it [Cybertruck] here but it’s certainly not a done deal just yet.”
Drew said he could not put a timeline on when the investigation into the Cybertruck’s local introduction might be completed by HQ in the USA.
“It’s being reviewed,” he said.
The Cybertruck is currently only built in Tesla’s Texas plant. US pricing for the dual motor model (there is a tri-motor as well) equates to about $125,000 in Aussie dollars.
Despite an enormous amount of reservations ahead of its launch, the Cybertruck has not sold in big numbers. Cheaper models such as a single motor are in the pipeline.
But its slow North American sales could help convince Tesla to export it to Australia.
