Tesla’s wild Cybertruck has landed Down Under.
Local staff drove a left-hand drive version of the angular, futuristic electric pick-up truck around some of Sydney’s best known landmarks to drum up publicity for the opening of a new showroom in Rosebery, in the city’s southeast.
The company is keen to launch the Cybertruck in Australia but is facing regulatory hurdles as it doesn’t comply with some Australian design rules.
However, it is believed the Federal Government, may be willing to make concessions to encourage more car makers to bring out their latest and greatest electric vehicles.
If concessions are made, the vehicle could make it to Australian showrooms as early as 2026.
But don’t expect to see Cybertrucks replacing Toyota HiLuxes and Ford Rangers en-masse, as the Tesla is likely to be prohibitively expensive.
A local importer this week began selling a locally converted version of the Ford F150 Lightning electric pick-up for as much as $250,000 plus on-road costs this week.
The Tesla will most likely be converted to right-hand-drive in the United States, which will reduce costs, but it will still be priced comfortably into six figures.
In the US it retails for between $US81,895 ($125,500) and $101,985 ($156,000).
The Cybertruck is already listed on the Australian website but not available to order. Australian buyers will have to wait until US demand eases for the truck, which was launched in December last year.
At the vehicle’s launch Tesla founder and chief executive Elon Musk said the truck was a “rare” and “seemingly impossible” achievement.
“I think it’s our best product. I think it’s the most unique thing on the road. And finally the future will look like the future,” he said.
He said the Cybertruck was a “better truck than a truck and a better sports car than a sports car”.
The Cybertruck combines futuristic, stainless steel panels with blistering acceleration and towing ability.
The company claims the truck reaches 100km/h in about 2.6 seconds, which is faster than some supercars.
It’s also bulletproof, according to Musk.
“If Al Capone showed up with a Tommy gun and emptied the entire magazine into the car door, you would still be alive,” he said.
Musk said the truck was also a practical, capable work truck.
“It’s basically an incredibly useful truck. It’s not just some grandstanding showpiece like me,” he said.
The Cybertruck has a payload of “more than a tonne” and a towing capacity of 5000kg. The Toyota HiLux can only tow 3500kg.
A low centre of gravity made it less prone to rollover than rival pick-up trucks, while it was also safe in a crash, he said.
“If you’re ever in an argument with another car you will win,” he said.
The truck has “steer by wire”, which reduces its turning circle at low speeds.
Tesla plans to produce up to 250,000 units a year by 2025, although it has only delivered roughly 4000 since December last year, all of which have been recalled for a sticking accelerator pedal that could cause unintended acceleration.
It is unknown whether the Australian vehicle, which was registered in Queensland, has had the defect fixed.