The Tesla Cybertruck was originally supposed to be a six-seater, with two rows of bench seats, but the trucks on sale today only have two front buckets making it a five-passenger vehicle.
But now there’s a way to make it a six-seater, or seven-seater, or even an eight-seater.
At least when it’s parked.
Tesla is now selling a $100 Cybertruck Jumpseat that attaches to the open tailgate. Well, it’s not that simple.
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As reported by Autoblog, you first have to install a new Cybertruck Tailgate Shield that’s designed to protect the tailgate when you hang a bicycle over it. The accessory is $300, but also has another function.
The inside panel is equipped with Molle webbing, to which the Cordura nylon Jumpseat can be attached when it is down.
The seat folds up in to an integrated carrying case when not in use and Tesla says three will fit abreast across the tailgate. The product listing also says, “WARNING: DO NOT USE WHILE VEHICLE IS IN OPERATION.”
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While the implementation here is custom, Tesla didn’t exactly invent the idea of a tailgate-mounted seat. There are many available from automotive accessory companies and at least one other automaker has been thinking about offering it from the factory, but with an even more interesting twist.
The Ram 1500 Revolution Concept electric pickup that was revealed at CES in 2023 featured a three-row seating arrangement that included jumpseats mounted to the rear wall of the cabin.
Ram didn’t demonstrate them at the time, but a recently published patent application shows that they can also be removed and attached to the tailgate using integrated latches.
The production electric Ram 1500 REV coming out later this year doesn’t have a three-row cabin, or the seats, but Ram hasn’t ruled out introducing a more radical design for the next generation and the patent at least shows it’s not giving up on the idea.
In the meantime, the conventionally powered Ram pickups, along with the Ford F-Series and GM’s trucks, are available with front bench seats that turn them into six-seaters, even when you’re driving them.
