Cybertruck never coming to Australia and NZ as Tesla refunds buyers

Tesla has ended its plans to sell the Cybertruck in Australia and New Zealand. The electric vehicle maker notified customers who reserved the truck seven years ago that the vehicle will not be produced for their markets. The company stated in an email to reservation holders that its production plans for the region have been discontinued. Because Tesla can no longer fulfill these orders, it will refund all deposits within 30 days of customers receiving a confirmation email with their details.

To compensate affected customers, Tesla is offering one year of free Full Self-Driving access in supervised mode. This perk is available to anyone who orders a new Model 3 or Model Y. The decision resolves a long-standing question about the truck's availability in right-hand-drive markets. According to Drive Australia, sources indicated in 2023 that Tesla's Texas factory was not equipped to build right-hand-drive versions of the vehicle.

The lack of a right-hand-drive model prevents the Cybertruck from being legally driven on public roads in Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Japan, and Ireland. Tesla has not officially launched the truck in the UK or the European Union. The vehicle has not received regulatory approval from European authorities. Officials believe the truck will not be approved due to rules regarding crumple zones, pedestrian safety, lighting, and weight classifications. The sharp edges of the vehicle are considered a specific hazard to pedestrians.

The US Army has also faced issues importing the vehicle. A notification from the US Army Customs Agency stated that the Cybertruck's specifications, particularly its stiff stainless-steel body with sharp edges, violate EU safety standards for protecting vulnerable road users. Some Cybertrucks have reached Europe through individual single-vehicle approvals. Owners of these vehicles made specific modifications to satisfy regulatory requirements. The refunds for Australian and New Zealand customers will process within one month of the confirmation email.

The timeline for this decision spans seven years. Reservations opened in 2019, but the factory limitation identified in 2023 remained unresolved. Tesla is now closing out these orders by returning the initial payment. The free self-driving offer applies only to new Model 3 or Model Y orders placed by affected customers. No other changes to the Cybertruck's global rollout were mentioned in the email.