The Tesla Cybertruck Is Finally Getting An IIHS Crash Test
The Tesla Cybertruck scored a 5-Star safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration this year, but it will soon be facing a new challenge.
The IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) has confirmed that it has acquired a Cybertruck All-Wheel Drive for testing this month.
The Cybertruck’s pedestrian front crash protection system and headlights will be evaluated before it is subjected to the Updated Moderate Overlap Front crash test, which simulates two vehicles traveling in opposite directions and colliding with 40% coverage of the front end.
The IIHS is also testing the electric Volkswagen ID. Buzz minivan and F-150 Lightning pickup in this round, with the results expected to be released in August, but it isn’t doing all of the testing required for its Top Safety Pick rating system at this time. There are no further tests planned for the Cybertruck at this time, but the organization said it may revisit it for further evaluations. Its full slate includes small overlap, side impact and roof strength tests.
CLICK TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE FREE AMERICAN CARS AND RACING NEWSLETTER FOR UPDATES
The Rivian R1T is currently the only electric pickup that has holds an IIHS Top Safety Pick designation. The organization even gave its crash test equipment at test of its own a few years ago to see if it could handle the heavy weights of electric trucks with a vehicle loaded to 9,500 pounds. The R1T that it tested weighed around 7,000 pounds, while the Cybertruck and F-150 Lightning are both a bit lighter, despite being larger vehicles.
Read Also: TRUCKS AND SUVS WITH TALL AND BLUNT FRONT ENDS ACTUALLY ARE MORE DEADLY, IIHS STUDY FINDS
The IIHS does not yet have plans to test any of GM’s electric trucks, which include the GMC Hummer EV Pickup and SUV, Chevrolet Silverado EV, GMC Sierra EV and Cadillac Escalade IQ. All of them tip the scales at more than 8,500 pounds.