Illegal Tesla Cybertruck seized by Manchester police
Police in Manchester have seized a Tesla Cybertruck after finding it being driven illegally in the city.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) revealed that they confiscated the three-tonne American-built pick-up on the evening of January 17 in Bury and have reported its driver to prosecutors.
According to the force, while the driver is a permanent UK resident the vehicle is registered and insured abroad, which is prohibited in the UK.
The 5.5-metre wedge-shaped truck has been on sale in the United States since 2023 but is not on sale in the UK or Europe. It is not road legal in the UK, having not been tested to UK safety standards, and is unlikely to pass them due to the many sharp angles and lack of pedestrian protection.
Its makers claim the truck uses an ‘ultra-hard’ stainless steel exoskeleton and that the steel panels are bulletproof.
Following the incident, GMP issued the following statement on social media: “Whilst this may seem trivial to some, legitimate concerns exist around the safety of other road users or pedestrians if they were involved in a collision with the Cybertruck.
“The Tesla Cybertruck is not road-legal in the UK and does not hold a certificate of conformity.”
Tesla brought an example of the Cybertruck to the UK last year and toured dealerships with it but, at the time said there were no plans for it to go on sale here.
The Cybertruck has been no stranger to controversy and safety issues since it was first announced in 2019.
In 2024 Tesla recalled thousands of Cybertrucks after accelerator pedals were getting trapped by interior trim, increasing the risk of crashes.
