A Tesla Cybertruck was seen with a license plate in China's Tianjin municipality on August 16, marking the first time the electric vehicle has been registered in the country, raising questions about its potential road legality in China.
Tesla Cybertruck Spotted with License Plate in China, Fueling Speculation on EV Registration Rules
It appears that a Tesla Cybertruck has been registered in China, the first electric vehicle (EV) to be observed with a license plate in the country.
On August 16, a Tesla Cybertruck with a license plate was observed in the Tianjin municipality of China, sparking considerable speculation regarding the EV's eligibility for registration in the country. In the video that GearMusk, an X user, shared, it is evident that a Cybertruck is passing the driver. The truck has a license plate on the rear.
According to Teslarati, it is unclear what type of license plate was installed on this Cybertruck on August 16 or whether this indicates that a broader range of vehicles will soon be eligible for registration in China.
The Tesla Cybertruck's potential introduction to China and other countries has sparked significant debate regarding potential passenger safety regulations that could impede the EV's registration in the country.
“Getting Cybertruck road legal in China would be very difficult, but we could ship some prototypes over for display,” Musk said in January, followed by the ensuing Cybertruck tour.
Cybertruck Faces Certification Hurdles Abroad, Yet Gains Popularity as Tesla Expands Global Tour
Tesla CEO Elon Musk stated in June that the Cybertruck could be certified for other markets sometime next year, even though it appears difficult to register in Europe and many parts of Asia. Additionally, a few Cybertruck units have recently been registered in Europe.
Tesla initiated a Cybertruck tour in China in January, following Musk's assertions regarding the truck's difficulty obtaining road legality in the country. The tour subsequently expanded to include several other countries in Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.
After years of eager anticipation, the Cybertruck finally made its debut in November of last year. This long-awaited release has since propelled the Cybertruck to the top spot as the most popular vehicle over$100,000 in the United States for the past two months, a testament to the excitement it has generated.