The Tesla Cybertruck has finally received its first crash safety rating, over a year after deliveries began in November 2023. The electric truck scored a 5-star rating in nearly all individual categories, including frontal and side crashes, as well as risk of rollover. This achievement is a significant milestone for Tesla, as it quells concerns over the vehicle's unique design and materials.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) conducted a series of tests to simulate head-on and side crashes, as well as rollovers. In the frontal crash test, the Cybertruck was driven into a flat rigid barrier at 35 mph, earning a 5-star rating for drivers and a 4-star rating for passengers. The report noted that the driver seat center airbag deployed, but knee airbags for both driver and passenger did not. Tesla confirmed that the knee airbags were not designed to deploy for this specific test configuration.

In the side crash test, the Cybertruck earned an overall 5-star rating. The test consisted of a side barrier test, in which a moving, non-rigid barrier angled at 27 degrees was crashed into the driver-side door at 38.5 mph. A side pole crash test was also conducted, simulating the vehicle crashing into a fixed object like a tree or utility pole at 20 mph.

The Cybertruck earned a 4-star rating in the rollover test, with NHTSA determining that the truck did not tip over during the dynamic test. However, there was still a 12.4 percent risk of rollover. While this rating is slightly lower than the others, it is still a respectable score, especially considering the Cybertruck's unique design and materials.

It's worth noting that car companies "self-certify" that their vehicles comply with federal safety standards, and there is no "pre-approval" before an automaker is allowed to sell its cars to the public. Crash tests are typically performed after the vehicle is available for sale. Tesla conducted its own crash tests with the Cybertruck in-house, but this is the first time the EV has been tested by independent regulators.

Previous Tesla vehicles, including the Model Y, Model 3, Model X SUV, and Model S, have all earned 5-star crash test scores. The Cybertruck's rating is a testament to Tesla's commitment to safety, despite initial concerns over its stainless steel body and sharp angles. Safety experts had questioned whether the Cybertruck's design presented a unique risk to pedestrians and other vulnerable road users, but these concerns seem to have been alleviated by the NHTSA's evaluation.

However, it's notable that the government's NCAP program was recently updated to include pedestrian safety for the first time, but there's no mention of the Cybertruck's pedestrian safety rating in NHTSA's evaluation. This omission raises questions about the vehicle's performance in this area, and it remains to be seen how Tesla will address this aspect of safety.

In related news, the Cybertruck has been subject to seven recalls since its release, including for a slow-to-appear rear camera display, faulty windshield wipers, loose trim, jammed accelerator pedal, and undersized font on its warning lights. Sales of the Cybertruck have also been slowing down in recent months, forcing Tesla to begin offering discounts to juice demand. Despite these challenges, the 5-star crash rating is a significant achievement for Tesla, and it may help to boost consumer confidence in the vehicle.

In conclusion, the Tesla Cybertruck's 5-star crash rating is a testament to the company's commitment to safety and innovation. While concerns over the vehicle's design and materials remain, this achievement is a significant milestone for Tesla, and it may help to drive sales and adoption of the electric truck.