Tesla Cybertruck Isn't Allowed in Germany, Not Even the US Army Can Change That

Tesla's stainless-steel wedge known as the Cybertruck won't be prowling the streets of Germany anytime soon—and not even the might of the U.S. military can change that. According to a U.S. Army Customs Agency news release that surfaced on Reddit's r/teslamotors forum, the Cybertruck does not qualify for the usual rules exemption that applies to American service members. Why did the German government deny the Army's request? It turns out there are several reasons—and most of them relate to safety. According to the release, the regulator flagged the truck's sharp-edged body and massive curb weight as violations of passive safety rules designed to protect vulnerable road users like cyclists, pedestrians, and motorcyclists. EU standards require impact protection zones, prohibit dangerous exterior edges, and mandate speed limiters on vehicles that weigh over 3.5 tons. The U.S. Army admitted that the truck doesn't meet those standards, according to the document, but requested an exemption anyway. That's not all that shocking, given that the German Federal Ministry of Transport (FMoT) allows U.S. forces members to import some non-EU-compliant cars through a system that belongs to a part of the Army known as USAREUR-AF. Tesla In this case, though, the ministry denied the request, saying that the Tesla “not only fails to meet the EU legal requirements but deviates significantly from them,” adding that a safe operation in German public road traffic could not be ensured. Interestingly, the unusual styling came under fire as well. Officials noted that the Cybertruck's distinctive design and known lack of legal standing in Germany would make it stand out in traffic; that might sound like no big deal, but essentially, it would make it very clear when a U.S. military service member was in traffic, potentially compromising security and placing members of the armed forces at risk. Tesla The decision leaves U.S. military personnel in Germany with little recourse. If they already own a Cybertruck, it'll need to stay Stateside. Otherwise, it'll end up as little more than a big paperweight in Europe.