Tesla Cybertruck's stiff structure, sharp design raise safety concerns

angular design of Tesla's Cybertruck has safety experts concerned electric pickup truck's stiff stainless-steel exoskeleton could hurt pedestrians and cyclists and damage or vehicles on ros.

Reuters spoke to six safety professors and officials who viewed videos of crash tests conducted by Tesla on its first new vehicle in nearly four years and shown during a webcast delivery event last week.

Crash test videos that Tesla live-streamed at a November 30 event were heavily discussed on social media. Experts who spoke to Reuters said y needed crash-test data to reach firm conclusions about safety.

" big problem re is if y really make skin of vehicle very stiff by using thick stainless steel, n when people hit ir hes on it, it's going to cause more damage to m," said rian Lund, former president of Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), whose vehicle crash tests are an industry standard.

Tesla touted structures of truck that absorb impact during crash. Tesla CEO Elon Musk said in a social media post on Tuesday that he was "highly confident" Cybertruck will be safer than or trucks for occupants and pedestrians.

Tesla did not immediately respond to requests for comment on concerns raised by safety experts.

vehicle designed with flat planes and long, linear edges is visually distinct. It is first car with a stainless-steel exterior since launch of DeLorean car which was featured in 1985 movie "Back to Future." material has even broken stamping machine that forms panels, Musk said, touting vehicle's toughness.

During launch event at factory in Austin, Texas, Tesla said cold-rolled, stainless body panels are designed to absorb impact during a crash.

front and rear structures have energy-absorbing ribs that help dissipate energy, and during a side impact skin of door carried a majority of crash lo, it said.

George Washington University auto safety professor Samer Hamdar raised concerns about limited "crumple zones," but ded that or features might make up for that. Crumple zones are parts of car that deform in a crash in a way to more safely absorb energy of an impact.

"re might be a possibility of shock-absorbent mechanism that will limit fact that you have a limited crumple zone," Hamdar said.

Starting at $60,990, Cybertruck will not be a high-volume vehicle like Tesla's Model Y, but Musk has said Tesla was likely to reach a production rate of roughly 250,000 Cybertrucks a year in 2025.

'RED FLAGS' IN A CRASH

Much of concern was focused on those outside Cybertruck. "If you have an argument with anor car, you will win," Musk said.

David Friedman, former acting he of National Highway Traffic Safety ministration, described effect for loser of crash: "If you're in a crash with anor vehicle that has a crumple zone and your car is more stiff, n ir cars are going to crush and yours is resistant," he said.

Julia Griswold, director of University of California, Berkeley's Safe Transportation Research Center, said she was "alarmed" by crash test videos Tesla posted. She said heavy weight of trucks and ir high acceleration "raise red flags for non-occupants."

Tesla has not said wher it will sell Cybertrucks in Europe, but its chief engineer this month told motoring publication TopGear that EU safety rules aimed at protecting pedestrians by limiting external protrusions could make it tough to sell re.

"We hope Tesla don't bring this vehicle to Europe. A vehicle of this size, power and huge weight will be lethal to pedestrians and cyclists in a collision," Brussels-based nonprofit European Transport Safety Council said in a statement.

US regulators rely on vehicle makers to self-test and certify ir herence to safety standards. Musk said in a recent interview with auto consultant Sandy Munro that Cybertruck h passed regulatory review. first dozen or so trucks were released to buyers last week.