Attack of the Cybertrucks

The Tesla Cyberbruck ute could pose dangers to other road users, according to the head of the Australasian New Car Assessment Program.

ANCAP chief executive James Goodwin says the angular shape and stainless steel construction of the all-electric Cybertruck would likely pose risks to pedestrians and cyclists, who are among the most vulnerable road users and account for almost one in five fatalities.

“It’s got a fairly harsh front and not a whole lot of areas that would provide some give if there was a strike with a pedestrian,” said Goodwin of the Cybertruck. “We do both head form and leg form impacts … the (frontal) rake would look like it’s not very forgiving in terms of legs.”

“We’ve got a concern that Tesla is very interested in the occupants of the vehicle, but it can’t ignore the other road users as well,” said Goodwin. He also questioned the thick steel “exoskeleton” Tesla boss Elon Musk says makes it

Cybertruck at Tesla design studios in Hawthorne, California.

tough and resistant to dents, demonstrated by attacking the concept with a sledgehammer, which left no marks.

“We would expect that a vehicle should be able to absorb some (crash) energy because if it doesn’t absorb some energy … it will be the people inside the vehicle who bear the brunt.”

Though Cybertruck is clearly a concept — there are no indicators, airbags or windscreen wipers — the chunky tyres protrude from the wheel arches, something that would need to be corrected for production versions.