First Cybertruck approved in Norway

[Vrakpant]

Too big and angular and will never be approved in europe. Nonsense naysayers be nonsensing.

The first vehicle is imported and has undergone changes to be approved. Amber turn signals anyone. c'mon 'murica. is not that hard. Because of the weight of the truck it is approved as a three seater (for now).

Here's the article, not much info there but the game is on,

https://www.tv2.no/broom/overrasker-stort-likevel-godkjent-i-norge/17382792/

English translated version:

https://www-tv2-no.translate.goog/b...l=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=wapp

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[YDR37]

Too big and angular and will never be approved in europe.

If the Cybertruck can be made acceptable for the Norwegian market, then that's obviously a positive development. But it doesn't necessarily have broader implications for "Europe" generally.

Most countries in Europe belong to the European Union (EU), so they follow EU regulations. But Norway happens to be one of a handful of countries in Western Europe that is outside the EU (others: UK, Iceland, Switzerland). So Norway can allow modified CTs within its borders, but this doesn't mean that Norway-approved CTs can be legally driven across the border into Sweden, or Finland, or any other EU country.

It's unlikely that Tesla will export CTs to Europe unless they get EU approval, which would unlock access to a very large market. In theory, they could seek approval in the non-EU countries, but this might not be practical. Norway, Switzerland, and Iceland are probably too small to make it worthwhile. The UK is a significant non-EU market, but it would be hard to sell CTs in the UK unless they made a version with the steering wheel on the right. The Model S and Model X are available in the UK, but only with the steering wheel on the left, and they sell poorly for that reason.

 

[YDR37]

Another interesting point is that the modified CT is being priced at 1,750,000 Norwegian kroner, which is equivalent to about $156,000 in US dollars. Not clear if it is AWD or Cyberbeast, but either way it seems like a large markup.

 

[YDR37]

The UK is a significant non-EU market, but it would be hard to sell CTs in the UK unless they made a version with the steering wheel on the right. The Model S and Model X are available in the UK, but only with the steering wheel on the left, and they sell poorly for that reason.

Obviously making left-hand drive (LHD) and right-hand drive (RHD) versions of the same model is a hassle, but seems like it could be relatively easy to do with the Cybertruck. Since it is steer-by-wire, there should be fewer physical parts that need to be mirrored.

A RHD version of the Cybertruck could also be exported to Australia and New Zealand, which collectively might well be a bigger pickup market than the UK.

 

[TickTock]

I wonder if they replaced some of the front SS panels with composite.

 

[Crissa]

Obviously making left-hand drive (LHD) and right-hand drive (RHD) versions of the same model is a hassle, but seems like it could be relatively easy to do with the Cybertruck. Since it is steer-by-wire, there should be fewer physical parts that need to be mirrored.

A RHD version of the Cybertruck could also be exported to Australia and New Zealand, which collectively might well be a bigger pickup market than the UK.

Being electronically steered makes that alot alot easier.

-Crissa

 

[cybercricket]

If the Cybertruck can be made acceptable for the Norwegian market, then that's obviously a positive development. But it doesn't necessarily have broader implications for "Europe" generally.

Most countries in Europe belong to the European Union (EU), so they follow EU regulations. But Norway happens to be one of a handful of countries in Western Europe that is outside the EU (others: UK, Iceland, Switzerland). So Norway can allow modified CTs within its borders, but this doesn't mean that Norway-approved CTs can be legally driven across the border into Sweden, or Finland, or any other EU country.

It's unlikely that Tesla will export CTs to Europe unless they get EU approval, which would unlock access to a very large market. In theory, they could seek approval in the non-EU countries, but this might not be practical. Norway, Switzerland, and Iceland are probably too small to make it worthwhile. The UK is a significant non-EU market, but it would be hard to sell CTs in the UK unless they made a version with the steering wheel on the right. The Model S and Model X are available in the UK, but only with the steering wheel on the left, and they sell poorly for that reason.

Vienna Convention (supersedes earlier Geneva Convention) on Road Traffic begs to differ. Any vehicle legal to operate in Norway will be temporarily allowed pretty much anywhere else as long as it carries an insurance valid in the target countries.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vienna_Convention_on_Road_Traffic#Cross-border_vehicles

 

[YDR37]

Vienna Convention (supersedes earlier Geneva Convention) on Road Traffic begs to differ. Any vehicle legal to operate in Norway will be temporarily allowed pretty much anywhere else as long as it carries an insurance valid in the target countries.

Yeah, looks like you're right. It should be possible to drive a Norwegian-registered CT throughout the EU (and many other countries). Presumably you couldn't sell it or register it in the EU (unless Tesla applies for and receives EU approval), but you could drive it there.

 

[cybercricket]

Yeah, looks like you're right. It should be possible to drive a Norwegian-registered CT throughout the EU (and many other countries). Presumably you couldn't sell it or register it in the EU (unless Tesla applies for and receives EU approval), but you could drive it there.

Even more so, a US-registered Cybertruck will be allowed to drive around Europe without any modifications. It may be a bit challenging finding a company to insure it there though.

I've never done this with a car/truck, but I've done this with a motorcycle - biggest hurdle was having an insurance company to recognize the US title and registration. Being detained at some borders because of the "expired registration" (month/day being backwards) was a lot of fun too.

 

[YDR37]

a US-registered Cybertruck will be allowed to drive around Europe without any modifications. It may be a bit challenging finding a company to insure it there though.

Another limitation: seems like the driver might need to be carrying a special truck license, if there were no modifications.

The CT (and many other US pickups) would require special driver's licenses in the EU (and Norway) based on their payload ratings. Apparently it is possible to get around this by limiting the number of passengers, which reduces the rating.

Here's a story about a Czech-registered Cybertruck that has visited other countries, such as Slovakia. This has annoyed certain NGOs, which have questioned the validity of its registration:

The Czech transport ministry said all vehicles in the N1 category, in which the truck was registered, have weight ratios calculated from formulas in EU regulation from 2018. But the vehicle data it provided shows the Cybertruck does not satisfy the formulas when carrying four passengers.

And that may explain why the Norwegian CT is reportedly limited to three passengers:

Due to the car's weight, it is currently only approved with three seats.

 

[cybercricket]

Another limitation: seems like the driver might need to be carrying a special license.

The CT (and many other US pickups) would require special driver's licenses in the EU (and Norway) based on their payload ratings. Apparently it is possible to get around this by limiting the number of passengers, which reduces the rating.

Here's a story about a Czech-registered Cybertruck that has visited other countries, such as Slovakia. Some NGOs are not happy about this. Furthermore:

This may explain why the Norwegian CT is reportedly limited to three passengers:

No special license will be required. Again the above mentioned treaty covers that aspect - as long as the driver is licensed to operate that vehicle in the country of registration, their license will be accepted in every signatory country for the same type of operation (nothing less, nothing more) as long as it's accompanied by an IDP.

 

[YDR37]

No special license will be required. Again the above mentioned treaty covers that aspect - as long as the driver is licensed to operate that vehicle in the country of registration, their license will be accepted in every signatory country for the same type of operation (nothing less, nothing more) as long as it's accompanied by an IDP.

OK, so an American driver operating an American CT in Europe is OK (assuming the Vienna Convention applies to Americans -- looks like the US has not actually signed it).

But a European driver operating an American CT (or another heavy American pickup) in Europe would need a special license, in accordance with European laws.

So that could pose an issue for CT sales in Europe, unless Tesla "de-rated" the CT payload for Europe. Which is probably quite possible. I think Ford and Chevy do this do this in certain states that have higher registration fees for vehicles that exceed certain GVWRs.

 

[cybercricket]

OK, so an American driver operating an American CT in Europe is OK. But a European driver operating an American CT (or another heavy American pickup) in Europe would need a special license, in accordance with European laws.

So that could pose an issue for CT sales in Europe, unless Tesla "de-rated" the CT payload for Europe. Which is probably quite possible. I think Ford and Chevy do this do this in certain states that have higher registration fees for vehicles that exceed certain GVWRs.

I would say at a minimum there has to be a license from the country matching the registration of the vehicle. I don't believe nationality of the operator is important, and neither the Geneva or Vienna convention seems to be concerned with that. The thing to remember is that the treaty is only for a temporary operation - if the operator is considered a resident in the country of operation, they will not be allowed to operate a foreign vehicle without registering it past a certain point. I don't know what the cutoff is, but I imagine it will be something like 90 days in most countries. A typical scenario for that would be if say that person from Norway with a CT takes a job in Sweden and moves there - within 90 days they will be required to stop CT's operation under Norway registration and driver's license and will have to get it registered in Sweden and may also have to receive a Swedish driver's license. Kind of like when we move from one state to another in the US.

Either way, as Americans we should be fine shipping a CT to EU for a Summer vacation, and then shipping it back to the US. Just like I said make sure to arrange insurance coverage ahead of time.

 

[tingmo13]

if Tesla come out with midsize Cybertruck will do wonders for both domestic & international market-all these legalize or not in other countries would eliminate.

 

[rlhamil]

Thing is, for living in any European country rather than just visiting, there are a lot of narrow roads in old cities, not much in the way of destination chargers near apartments/condos, limited parking, etc. In theory they're promoting EVs, in practice it's not so easy, and owning and operating any large vehicle (ICE or EV) would have some challenges.

Been there, seen the roads. (some of the Swiss and northern Italian roads, outside of cities, are much better; even bridges spanning valleys, tunnels reducing the amount of mountain to climb over, etc; very impressive) But I don't think I'd want to drive anything bigger than (or much smaller than) a small SUV in say London or Cologne, let alone some of the smaller historical tourist towns (the ones that even allow non-emergency motor vehicles in the whole town).

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