Tesla cancels right-hand drive Cybertruck sales for Australia and New Zealand

Tesla has stopped plans to sell the Cybertruck in Australia and New Zealand. The company informed reservation holders that the vehicle will not arrive in those markets. This decision ends a wait that began in 2019.

In an email to affected customers, Tesla stated that its plans to produce the truck for the two countries have been discontinued. The automaker said it can no longer fulfill orders in the region. It will refund every deposit within 30 days of customers receiving a confirmation email.

Tesla is offering a year of Full Self-Driving (Supervised) access to anyone who orders a new Model 3 or Model Y. This offer is a gesture to customers who lost their reservation.

Questions about the truck's arrival in Australia persisted for years. Drive Australia reported in 2023 that sources indicated Tesla's Texas factory was not set up to build right-hand drive vehicles. Without that configuration, the truck cannot legally be driven on public roads in Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Japan, or Ireland.

Tesla has not officially launched the Cybertruck in the UK or the European Union. The vehicle has not received regulatory approval from European authorities. Officials believe the truck will not be approved due to rules covering crumple zones, pedestrian safety, lighting, and weight classifications. The sharp edges of the vehicle are viewed as a hazard to people it might strike.

The US Army Customs Agency noted that several specifications of the Cybertruck violate EU safety standards. The agency specifically cited the sharp-edged, stiff stainless-steel body as a primary issue for protecting vulnerable road users. Individual owners have secured single-vehicle approvals in Europe by making modifications to satisfy regulators.