Driver stopped in Tesla Cybertruck banned in UK

A Tesla Cybertruck, not road-legal in the UK due to safety concerns, has been seized by police in Greater Manchester after being spotted in Whitefield, Bury. The roughly £48,000 vehicle is registered and insured abroad and lacks a UK certificate of conformity, making it illegal to drive. The seizure occurred on Thursday night as part of Operation Wolverine, which targets uninsured drivers; the owner, a UK resident, will have to prove ownership and valid insurance before release. The incident follows Tesla's recall of thousands of Cybertrucks in April 2024 over accelerator-pedal issues.

Tesla describes the Cybertruck as using a stainless-steel body that is resistant to low-calibre bullets and features a distinctive angular design. It has not yet passed UK road-safety tests, and the car has toured the Middle East and Europe, including the 2024 Goodwood Festival of Speed. GMP notes that the vehicle lacks a certificate of conformity. The seizure highlights regulatory hurdles for non-traditional vehicles traveling internationally and the need for proper registration, insurance, and conformity documentation before a vehicle can be driven in the UK.