Tesla cancels Cybertruck sales in Australia and New Zealand, offers refunds

Tesla has told the handful of Australians and New Zealanders who reserved its Cybertruck that the vehicle will never be sold in their markets. In an email sent this week, the company said its “plans to produce Cybertruck” for those countries “have been discontinued.” Customers will receive a full refund of their deposits within 30 days, and those who order a new Model 3 or Model Y will get a free year of Full Self‑Driving (Supervised) access.

The decision comes after years of uncertainty about whether the futuristic pickup could ever reach the region. Tesla’s Gigafactory in Texas, where the Cybertruck is built, is not set up to produce a right‑hand‑drive version. Without that, the truck cannot be legally driven on streets that require right‑hand‑drive vehicles, including Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Japan and Ireland. The issue has lingered since the vehicle’s first deliveries to early buyers in 2023, when industry observers noted the factory’s limitation.

Regulatory hurdles add to the problem. The Cybertruck has not received type‑approval in the UK or the European Union, and officials say its sharp‑edged stainless‑steel body, lighting, weight and crumple‑zone design violate EU safety rules aimed at protecting pedestrians and vulnerable road users. Even the U.S. Army’s Customs Agency warned that several specifications breach European standards, preventing the truck from being imported for military use. In Europe, only a few owners have managed to drive the vehicle after obtaining costly single‑vehicle approvals and making extensive modifications.

Tesla’s withdrawal from Australia and New Zealand narrows the Cybertruck’s already limited global footprint. The move may signal that the company will focus on markets where it can meet local regulations without costly retooling. It also leaves prospective buyers in the region without a clear alternative, potentially nudging them toward competing electric pickups that already meet right‑hand‑drive and safety requirements. How Tesla proceeds with the Cybertruck’s broader launch remains uncertain, but the latest setback highlights the challenges of turning a bold design into a worldwide product.