Tesla Cybertruck seized after unlawfully driving on UK roads

A Tesla Cybertruck that was prohibited from driving in the UK has been seized after unlawfully driving in Whitefield, Greater Manchester.

Officers from the Greater Manchester Police Transport Unit stopped the Cybertruck, which a permanent UK resident was driving, after it was found that the vehicle was registered and insured abroad – making it prohibited to drive here.

Posted to Bury Police’s Facebook page, the statement said ‘legitimate concerns exist around the safety of other road users or pedestrians if they were involved in a collision with a Cybertruck.’

It added that the Tesla ‘does not hold a certificate of conformity’.

As a result, the Cybertruck was seized under S165 of the Road Traffic Act which gives police the ability to seize vehicles driven without a licence or insurance. The driver was also reported.

The Cybertruck was released by Tesla in 2023 after being first shown in prototype form in 2019. With a range of up to 340 miles from its electric battery and motors, the Cybertruck features 35-inch all-terrain tyres and 17 inches of ground clearance. At over 5.6 metres, the Cybertruck is considerably longer than a standard Range Rover, which is just over five metres in length.

A Greater Manchester Police spokesperson said that the vehicle has been referred to Operation Wolverine, which was established in 2007 to target drivers without insurance. As a result,’the owner will have to prove ownership and correct insurance prior to release.’