A Tesla Cybertruck that was prohibited from driving in the UK has been seized by police after being unlawfully driven in Greater Manchester.
Officers from the Greater Manchester Police transport unit stopped the Cybertruck, which a permanent UK resident was driving, in Whitefield after it was found the vehicle was registered and insured abroad – making it prohibited to drive in the UK.
A statement posted on Bury Police’s Facebook page said: “Legitimate concerns exist around the safety of other road users or pedestrians if they were involved in a collision with a Cybertruck.”
Cybertruck in <60 secs pic.twitter.com/Gvgkxxekxb
— Cybertruck (@cybertruck) January 8, 2024
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 the vehicle has been referred to Operation Wolverine, which was established in 2007 to target drivers without insurance.
The owner will have to prove ownership and correct insurance prior to release, the spokesperson added.
