The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently evaluated the Tesla Cybertruck. It received a five-star overall rating, reinforcing the vehicle’s reputation for safety.
Despite criticism of its stainless steel body, Elon Musk has always defended the pickup, calling it ‘indestructible’. Although Musk exaggerated some of his statements, the NHTSA evaluation seems to confirm this claim.
Cybertruck stood out for durability
The tests were conducted with the 2024 version of the Cybertruck Cyberbeast, the top of the range. In the 35 mph frontal crash test, the van received five stars for the driver and four stars for the passenger.
It is important to emphasise that although the knee airbags did not deploy after the crash, the doors remained closed and functional, as they were not designed for this particular evaluation.
The Cybertruck also performed well in the side impact tests, with no problems when hitting a barrier or pole. In the rollover test, the vehicle had a risk rate of 12.4 per cent, resulting in four stars in this evaluation, which simulates loss of control. NHTSA noted that the Cybertruck did not roll over during the dynamic evaluation, which is a positive point in terms of the model’s safety.
After the results were announced, Tesla released a video describing the measures it has taken to maximise the safety of the Cybertruck. The NHTSA assessment helps dispel some of the criticism from critics who previously called the truck a ‘killing machine’. The vehicle’s safety is now backed up by rigorous testing, which could have a positive impact on public perception of the Cybertruck.