In the US, the safety standards consider only the occupants of the car. The safety of pedestrians, cyclists, and occupants of other cars are not considered. This was looking like it would change but with the current administration I doubt it.
The Cybertruck is not legal in Europe and anywhere else with actual safety standards.
As for pedestrians, cyclists, etc. it doesn't matter if you're hit by a Mini Cooper at 55mph or a Cybertruck at 55mph, you're not walking away from it. But the Cybertruck has far more anti-collision features than almost any production car in the world, along with the entire Tesla line.
Also, if you get hit by a Cybertruck at 55mph, the sharp angles are going to cut you far deeper than a Mini Cooper would. You're not going to walk away from it either way, but you're probably more likely to perish from the Cybertruck.
(That doesn't stop me from wanting a Cybertruck but that's just because it's cool in other ways. I don't know if I'd want one to be my daily driver, but it is very cool.)
It's not perfectly safe. If it were, it would be legal everywhere and it's not.
At 55mph perhaps this doesn't matter, but most vehicle-pedestrian collisions occur at far lower speeds than that, and then it absolutely does matter.
I self identify as a Tesla fanboy, the model Y is the best car in the world in my opinion, but even I have to admit the cybertruck has several fatal flaws and just isn't a good vehicle.
On paper it has a bunch of things going for it, for example it is (as far as I know) the cheapest fully electric vehicle with air suspension. In practice it all falls apart (both literally and figuratively)
I wish Tesla would try again and build a new truck, without the cyber and the cold rolled stainless steel. Stick to the design language of the other Tesla models this time. Let Franz do his thing.
Oh look, another Tesla fanboy using an extreme example to avoid discussing a legitimate concern.
> NHTSA conducts frontal, side and rollover tests because these types account for the majority of crashes on America's roadways.
> IIHS tests evaluate two aspects of safety: crashworthiness — how well a vehicle protects its occupants in a crash — and crash avoidance and mitigation — technology that can prevent a crash or lessen its severity.
> As well as assessing how well cars protect their occupants, Euro NCAP tests how well they protect those vulnerable road users – pedestrians and cyclists – with whom they might collide.
This is why hood ornaments mostly died and flip up headlights fully died. The NHTSA doesn't write rules that ban specific features. You can do anything it meets the requirements. You can make brake hoses out of woven spaghetti if you want. It'll probably cost you a lot to get them to a performance point where they meet the rules though.
Furthermore, the NHTSA doesn't do most testing. The testing must be done and the testing needs to meet NHTSA standards but the OEMs are free to DIY it or outsource.
That's for occupants.
> Furthermore, the NHTSA doesn't do most testing.
Which is why I quoted IIHS and other non-US testing.
> NHTSA standards
Which standards are for e.g. pedestrian safety? The hood ornament thing?
> That's misleading. They don't test for pedestrian safety as part of the normal tests. But they test for it generally
No, it isn't and no they didn't/don't. E.g. GAO report from 2020 [0]:
> NHTSA’s last substantial update of NCAP was in July 2008 (with changes effective for model year 2011 vehicles). This update established additional crash tests and technical standards to protect vehicle occupants, but did not include pedestrian safety tests.
Or from NHTSA itself in 2022 [1], although note this is a "proposal" and "recommendations":
> For the first time ever, NCAP includes technology recommendations not only for drivers and passengers but for road users outside the vehicle, like pedestrians. The proposal [...]. We look forward to reviewing the comments we receive and considering them as we complete this important work.”
They will/might, by adopting Euro NCAP [2]:
> This final decision notice adds a crashworthiness pedestrian protection program to the New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) to evaluate new model year vehicles’ abilities to mitigate pedestrian injuries. Based on its previous research, NHTSA concurs with and adopts most of the European New Car Assessment Programme’s (Euro NCAP) pedestrian crashworthiness assessment methods [...]
> These changes to the New Car Assessment Program are effective for the 2026 model year.
But as of yet, this does not appear on their NCAP ratings: https://www.nhtsa.gov/ratings/resources-related-nhtsas-new-c...
[0]: https://www.gao.gov/assets/gao-20-419.pdf
[1]: https://www.nhtsa.gov/press-releases/five-star-safety-rating...
[2]: https://www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/2024-11/NCAP-Fin...
And you can buy a BYD in America. There's just a pre-Trump 100% tariff on Chinese EVs with bipartisan support that isn't going away any time soon.
If a vehicle was never sold in the US and is not FMVSS compliant (with a sticker), then the RI has to prove every piece of consequence IS compliant. Airbags tested to DOT standards. Headlights. Taillights. Seatbelts. Wipers. Crash safety. Dash lights, warning lights, backup camera FOV. TPMS. The list is like 10,000 things long.
Probably it does meet 99% of them , and the non-compliant things are an easy fix (we’re changing speedo in mine to mph).
The trick is you have to document and prove every single item on the list, often with lab testing. It takes years, and often millions of dollars.
Regular passenger vehicles have a lot of standards they need to meet, which usually means manufacturer participation. Has BYD gone through the process to get passenger vehicles approved for use in the US? Otherwise, sure, you can get it imported under a conditional use to bring it to car shows, but not for daily use.
> Nonresidents may import a vehicle duty-free for personal use up to (1) one year if the vehicle is imported in conjunction with the owner's arrival. Vehicles imported under this provision that do not conform to U.S. safety and emission standards must be exported within one year and may not be sold in the U.S. There is no exemption or extension of the export requirements.
While the vehicle can't be sold in the US, and must be reexported after a year, there's nothing on this page that says the nonresident can't lend it to a resident for most of the year. If money isn't really a problem, buy overseas, pay a nonresident to arrive in the vehicle, and after a year, export it and sell it and repeat. Nothing on this page suggests the vehicle couldn't leave and re-enter, but that seems like asking for way too much trouble, I wouldn't be surprised if someone at the border is keeping track of VINs. Since BYDs are sold in Mexico, you don't even need to deal with shipping, just drive through the border.
It's tricky with a car that has never been sold in the US, but with something where production for the US market ended, but other markets continue, you end up with things like a 1990s VW beetle with a 1970s title. shhh
[1] https://www.cbp.gov/trade/basic-import-export/importing-car
As is Mexico's, but BYD is available there — as well in a number of other North American countries.
> BYD coming to Canada would also hurt the auto industry.
To be fair, it is already hurting from the attacks launched by the USA. Canada has been considering partnering with China instead as a result of this. BYD is looking more and more realistic.
Also known as: "out of the frying pan and into the fire".
Canada specifically, as a major supplier to US auto manufacturers and a resource economy in it's own right, should be wary of cozying up to Chinese business.
"If I don't install more whirling spiked clubs, I'll be destroyed by the other drivers..."
Best-selling BEVs in China
January to June 2025
Geely Geome Xingyuan 205,091
BYD Seagull 174,912
Tesla Model Y 171,491
Tesla’s quarterly delivery boost meant its June results
propelled the Model Y into third, from fifth in May
Yes, but it's the same reason the original bondi blue iMac was the best selling model of computer when it came out, while Apple themselves were still on something like 5% of desktop sales:
Lots of wood behind few arrows.
https://carnewschina.com/2024/07/14/best-selling-vehicle-bra...
(Caveat: first result, I don't know site reputation)
2. Tesla China has factories in China, was still #8 in Chinese market, with BYD at #1, if this source from 2024 is correct: https://carnewschina.com/2024/07/14/best-selling-vehicle-bra...
I've test drove my mates atto3, I have model y. He's got lots of regrets, fixes. It's made from good materials, styled poorly and technology is like everyone else - poorly done. Price does reflect it, no free lunch.
...and that reason is that Tesla only has two models, the 3 and Y, that get any significant sales in China whereas BYD has several.
For example in the top 10 a couple months ago BYD had models that sold 70%, 69%, 59%, 58%, and 53% of what the Model Y sold.
When you look at cars sold per company rather than specific models Tesla is #10 in China with 1/6th of BYD's sales. Between BYD and Tesla there is Geely, Chery, Changan, Haval, a SAIC-GM-Wuling joint venture, a SAIC-Volkswagen joint venture, Toyota, and Xiaomi Auto.
Yes, and I want a decent budget vehicle here.
Even ignoring the parts falling off & the safety, every time I see one of these my first thought is "who saw a picture of this and said 'yep, that's what I want'"
Now add on flying corners/blades/edges ... even less enthused.
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I finally drove in a Rivian — and while I prefer the hybrid drivetrains — it was exceptionally nice. As an American, I can't wait for BYD to offer test drives here.