Crumple zones are parts of the car that deform in a crash in a way to more safely absorb the energy of an impact. “There might be a possibility of shock-absorbent mechanism that will limit the fact that you have a limited crumple zone,” Hamdar said. Starting at $60,990, Cybertruck will not be a high-volume vehicle like Tesla’s Model Y, but Musk has said Tesla was likely to reach a production rate of roughly 250,000 Cybertrucks a year in 2025. ‘Red flags’ in a crash Much of the concern was focused on those outside the Cybertruck. “If you have an argument with another car, you will win,” Musk said. David Friedman, the former acting head of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, described the effect for the loser of the crash: “If you’re in a crash with another vehicle that has a crumple zone and your car is more stiff, then their cars are going to crush and yours is resistant,” he said. Julia Griswold, director of the University of California, Berkeley’s Safe Transportation Research Center, said she was “alarmed” by the crash test videos Tesla posted. She said the heavy weight of the trucks and their high acceleration “raise red flags for non-occupants.” CEO Elon Musk said he was “highly confident” Cybertruck will be safer than other trucks for occupants and pedestrians. Getty Images Tesla has not said whether it will sell Cybertrucks in Europe, but its chief engineer this month told motoring publication TopGear that EU safety rules aimed at protecting pedestrians by limiting external protrusions could make it tough to sell there. “We hope Tesla don’t bring this vehicle to Europe. A vehicle of this size, power and huge weight will be lethal to pedestrians and cyclists in a collision,” the Brussels-based nonprofit European Transport Safety Council said in a statement. US regulators rely on vehicle makers to self-test and certify their adherence to safety standards. Musk said in a recent interview with auto consultant Sandy Munro that the Cybertruck had passed regulatory review. The first dozen or so trucks were released to buyers last week. Filed under