This isn't a knock on Tesla but maybe our across the pond members can explain. From reading it's technically a "Gray market " vehicle in the UK. Never intended to be sold there. I know that European countries and the USA vary vastly on rules as far as modification and registration. Apparently Tesla UK service centers told the guy that they don't have access to any of the repair manuals and his navigation system is stuck in California. I'm still trying to understand how he can license plate it in Albania and drive it in the UK? In the USA I couldn't import a Subaru Levorg, or even though Subaru sells vehicles in the USA. I know that the USA is much more lenient on aftermarket modifications than Germany or Europe.
First Cybertruck imported to the UK
- Thread starter 97prizm
- Start date
Found this online:
My guess would be that he is registering it in an EU country like Albania and then driving it there as a visitor or non-resident. I'm certainly not any sort of expert here so maybe one of our UK members could add more info to this.
My guess would be that he is registering it in an EU country like Albania and then driving it there as a visitor or non-resident. I'm certainly not any sort of expert here so maybe one of our UK members could add more info to this.
That document only refers to driving a vehicle into the UK, i.e. visiting with it. The OP said "import" it into the UK but then refers to it being registered in Albania. That's two different things.
@97prizm got a link to this story ?
They are not current members.
First Cybertruck in the UK
Gray market vehicles are always a gamble when importing into another country. Apparently the owner is having parking issues ( not surprised) and charging issues. I'm not sure why Tesla UK says they can't get Cybertruck repair manuals, except to limit liability?
James May did a test-drive/review on one while in California and said they would never work in the UK due to their size.
Reading that linked story, it appears he just has to "apply" to have it accepted by UK authorities and if it meets their criteria, they'll allow it. They still follow the same or similar regulations as the EU and he's gotten it to meet those so far.
Reading that linked story, it appears he just has to "apply" to have it accepted by UK authorities and if it meets their criteria, they'll allow it. They still follow the same or similar regulations as the EU and he's gotten it to meet those so far.
I read that Jalopnik article and can only SMH at the amount of wallet clearing it must have taken to import one of those mobile dumpsters fires.
"A fool and his money...etc".
"A fool and his money...etc".
His YouTube channel has over 2 million subscribers and I counted over 20 videos (and stopped counting) that have over a million views on each (more than a dozen have 4 million views and up to 10 million views). His earnings from YT alone probably covered everything.
These are flash in the pan, "Hey Look At Me" vehicles. Totally impractical and clumsy. Drive it through some water and stand back.
Whatever you say. Tesla has been a flash in the pan for 10+ years now.
These stupid ugly Cybertrucks are everywhere. Plenty of people disagree with us.
Yeah. In the USA we can't get the audi rs3 hatchback. In theory it can't be that different from the sedan, but Audi never officially certified it for our market. On one hand it's necessarily complicated that every make and model has to be certified. What surprises me from all the years of Top Gear Hammonds, May, and Clarkson all iterate how bureaucratic UK road legislation is that they'd allow a Cybertruck on the roads. Just tape off the sharp edges change the tail lights and eh close enough.
If it’s registered in Albania then it hasn’t been imported into the UK.
A UK import would be registered in the UK with a UK number plate.
Weighing in at 4 tons I hope the driver has the correct drivers licence as a car licence is up to 3.5 tons, looks like this would need a LGV 7.5 ton licence.
Also due to the weight I would think it will have a speed limit of 60 mph like a van over 3.5 tons would.
A UK import would be registered in the UK with a UK number plate.
Weighing in at 4 tons I hope the driver has the correct drivers licence as a car licence is up to 3.5 tons, looks like this would need a LGV 7.5 ton licence.
Also due to the weight I would think it will have a speed limit of 60 mph like a van over 3.5 tons would.
the cybertruck aswell possibly. In Belgium the rule is the length of the cargo compartment needs to exceed 50% of the wheelbase length and be seperate from the passenger compartment. so 140" wheelbase needs a 70" bed
it would also require a tachograph installed, and if used for anything but personal use there's limitations on how long the driver can go without rest. The fines on non,-compliance are massive and the investigators can go back YEARS. 15 years ago, the fine for not being compliant on the day of the check was 1600 euro, and there's additional fines for previous days.
Is there some type of loophole in the UK that would allow for this? The guy in the video is English not Albanian as far as I can tell. Apparently he owns multiple car wrap businesses in the UK. I didn't think the UK allowed gray market vehicles to be registered just like the USA? For years BMW offered an M5 wagon (estate car) but never sold it in the USA. You couldn't legally import one even if you wanted one. If the owner registered his Cybertruck in Albania is there a time limit he can keep it in the UK?
I’m honestly no sure of the answers to all of your questions, as far as I’m aware for a vehicle less than 10 years old you need vehicle approval, it’s along the same lines as what a manufacturer goes through to sell a car new, and has safety and emissions standards. This is why a lot of what we import from Japan is over 10 years old.
I wonder what vehicle class its Albanian registration has
I'm guessing he has a business in Albania aswell. No time limit then.
