Tesla drops Cybertruck for Australia, New Zealand

Tesla notified customers in Australia and New Zealand on Thursday that it will no longer sell the Cybertruck in those markets. The email stated that plans to produce the vehicle for the region have been discontinued. This decision ends a wait that began when reservations opened in 2019.

The company will refund every deposit within 30 days of customers receiving an email confirming their details. Most reservations required a $2,000 deposit. Tesla is also offering a free year of Full Self-Driving access to anyone who orders a new Model 3 or Model Y as a gesture to affected customers.

The core issue is the vehicle's design. The Cybertruck is built at a factory in Texas that is not set up to create right-hand drive versions. Without this configuration, the truck cannot legally operate on public roads in Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Japan, or Ireland. This limitation has kept the vehicle out of these markets since deliveries began to early buyers in 2023.

Regulatory hurdles in Europe present a similar barrier. The Cybertruck has not obtained regulatory approval from European authorities. Officials cite issues with crumple zones, pedestrian safety, lighting, and weight classifications. The truck's sharp edges are considered a specific hazard to people it might strike. The US Army Customs Agency noted that the stiff stainless-steel body violates EU safety standards for vulnerable road users.

Drive Australia reported in 2023 that sources indicated the Texas facility lacked the capacity for right-hand drive builds. That assessment proved accurate as Tesla moved to finalize its global rollout strategy. The company did not announce plans for a left-hand drive market expansion in Europe or the UK in the same communication.

Some Cybertrucks are already operating in Europe through a workaround. Individual owners have secured single-vehicle approvals by making modifications to satisfy local regulators. These cases are exceptions rather than the norm for the vehicle's presence on the continent.

Tesla's email to reservation holders marks the formal end of the vehicle's intended lifecycle in the Australian and New Zealand markets. The refund process begins immediately upon confirmation of customer details.