No EV Interest Means No Cybertruck Crash Tests
In 2024, the Tesla Cybertruck will forgo being subjected to a crash test by the NHTSA and is highly unlikely to be evaluated by the IIHS either. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s listing of automobiles that require 5-star safety tests for the 2024 design does not incorporate the revolutionary electric truck, which could be attributed to the timing of its delivery event launching after their said list was already revealed.
Why could the contentious Cybertruck be evading crash tests? It turns out that its potential unpopularity may be the root of the problem. If not enough consumers are investing in these vehicles, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety could deem it unnecessary to appraise their collision worthiness.
Indeed, there’s much more that can be observed; hence, let us briefly debate the extra motives.
The NHTSA states that their list of vehicles encompasses “around 86% of the new vehicle fleet” and includes cars such as the Cadillac Lyriq, Ford Bronco, and Jeep Wrangler – it would be impractical to test each car available, particularly when many are built on similar platforms and outfitted with similar safety features.
Adequately, yet how do we determine that the specially-made Cybertruck is secure? Tesla ran their own collision assessment, and it conformed to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Regulations. That is sufficient to allow it on the highway legitimately, in addition to being sufficient for the NHTSA to put out preliminary safety evaluations.
The NHTSA has verified to Teslarati that there will be no official ratings until the agency tests the truck directly, but when that may occur remains to be seen. According to the IIHS, official tests may not even materialize; its media relations director, Joe Young, declared that the organization will decide on whether to measure the Cybertruck’s crashworthiness after it has examined “the level of general consumer interest in the vehicle.”
“If the Tesla Cybertruck is to be a success on the roads, it will need to pass crash tests,” says Derek Young, founder of the Automotive Science Group. “However, if there are tens of thousands of these vehicles on the road, it will make more sense to crash-test it than if only a handful of wealthy collectors have acquired one as a status symbol.”Young explains that the level of general consumer interest in the Cybertruck will play a role in whether or not the vehicle is crash tested. If there are enough people who are interested in the vehicle, it will create a demand for it to be tested. If there is a lack of interest, then testing may not be necessary. Other factors, such as safety ratings and cost, can also contribute to the amount of consumer interest in the Cybertruck.
Despite the uncertainty, Tesla CEO Elon Musk remains “highly confident” that the Cybertruck will be “safer per mile than other trucks, both for occupants and pedestrians.” Even if the number of Cybertrucks on the roads is limited and they are driven only a few miles each month, statistics will still demonstrate its safety – even if every example were to crash multiple times.
We still, however, can’t rid ourselves of the notion that the pointed nose and hard corners that embody the design of Cybertruck could lead to an appalling pedestrian crash. Although it complies with the FMVSS requirement, examination entities responsible for crash tests are turning a blind eye.
Yes, we strongly believe that the Cybertruck will be much safer on a per-mile basis than other trucks, both for those within it and pedestrians. https://t.co/RydoYYn4FU
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