- The Tesla Cybertruck has received a five-star safety rating as it aced nearly every category.
- This isn’t the first electric truck to receive the honor as the F-150 Lightning also got five stars.
- NHTSA tests were conducted using a $99,990 Cyberbeast, Tesla’s top-tier Cybertruck model.
Update 2/20: Following NHTSA’s announcement of the Cybertruck’s five-star safety rating, Tesla has released a behind-the-scenes video showcasing its so-called Crash Lab. The video offers a glimpse into how Tesla aimed to enhance the electric truck’s safety credentials, covering everything from massive single-piece castings to roll-over prevention and maximizing occupant safety.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has given the Tesla Cybertruck an overall safety rating of five stars. While the electric truck didn’t ace every test, the only ones where it received a four-star rating were for rollover resistance and a passenger frontal barrier test, which simulated a head-on collision between two similar vehicles at 35 mph (56 km/h).
The tests were conducted using a 2024 Cybertruck Cyberbeast and were performed last December by California’s Applus IDIADA KARCO Engineering. While the findings span dozens of pages, the frontal barrier impact test showed there was “100 percent windshield retention and no intrusion into the protected zone of the windshield.” It went on to note both driver and passenger side doors remained closed during the impact, and were operable after the collision.
More: Tesla Cybertruck Crash Leaves Three Dead After Catching Fire
While the driver and passenger knee air bags did not deploy, Tesla said this was “by design for this specific test configuration.” However, the front air bags did deploy to protect the driver and passenger dummies.
The rigid pole side impact test didn’t reveal much of note, but the side air bags deployed as expected. The moving deformable barrier side impact test also seems pretty unremarkable.
Tesla is undoubtedly happy with the results, but it’s worth noting the Cybertruck isn’t the only five-star electric pickup as the Ford F-150 Lightning also carries the highest safety rating. Unfortunately, the Chevrolet Silverado EV, GMC Sierra EV, GMC Hummer EV, and Rivian R1T haven’t been rated.
While the Cybertruck is safe, it isn’t cheap as the model starts at $79,990 and climbs to $99,990 for the range-topping Cyberbeast.
