Tesla cancels Cybertruck for Australia and New Zealand

Some people in Australia and New Zealand have been waiting for a Cybertruck since Tesla first opened reservations seven years ago. That wait is now over, but not in the way they hoped. Tesla has told reservation holders in both countries that its plans to produce the Cybertruck for their markets "have been discontinued", according to Engadget, which saw the email being sent to customers.

What reservation holders get

Because it can no longer fulfil those orders, Tesla says it will refund every deposit. The money is due within 30 days after a customer receives and replies to the email confirming their details, so it is worth checking your inbox (and spam folder) if you placed a reservation.

Tesla is also trying to keep those buyers in the family. Anyone who orders a new Model 3 or Model Y gets one year of Full Self-Driving (Supervised) at no extra cost. That is a driver-assistance system that still requires an attentive driver, not an autonomous mode; we covered how the feature is evolving in our story on Tesla's Halloween FSD update.

Why the truck never made it

The core problem is the steering wheel. As Australian outlet Drive has reported since 2023, Tesla's Texas factory was not set up to build a right-hand-drive Cybertruck. Without one, the truck cannot be legally registered for road use in Australia and New Zealand, and the same applies to other right-hand-drive markets such as the UK, Japan and Ireland.

Europe is a separate hurdle. Tesla never launched the Cybertruck in the UK or the European Union, and the truck has no EU type approval. Its stiff, sharp-edged stainless-steel body is widely believed to clash with European rules on pedestrian protection and crumple zones, along with lighting and weight classes. Even the US Army's customs agency warned personnel that several Cybertruck specifications violate EU safety standards for vulnerable road users. The few examples seen on European roads were registered through individual approvals after modifications.

What it means for buyers

For Australians and New Zealanders, the practical choice is now a refund plus whatever else Tesla sells locally. Tesla has had a busy month of changes to its line-up and order books, including paused Model 3 orders in Canada. If you are switching to another EV instead, our home EV charger guide explains what to sort out at home before the car arrives.

Tesla has not announced any plan to revive the Cybertruck for right-hand-drive markets.