While the glass roof was shuttered, the Cybertruck’s stainless steel body panels proved more than strong enough
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by Brad Anderson
January 19, 2025 at 09:20
- Most of the impact appears to have been absorbed by one of the front quarter panels.
- Although the Cybertruck’s glass roof shattered, it didn’t crumple like normal roofs.
- High repair costs may render the Tesla truck a total loss despite its intact mechanics.
While the Tesla Cybertruck has been criticized for using a cast aluminum frame that can be susceptible to damage, there’s no denying that the stainless steel body panels of the electric pickup are really tough. The strength of the Tesla’s bodywork is on full display in these images, showing a massive tree that fell on a Cybertruck in the US recently.
The following Cybertruck, equipped with a stealthy matte black wrap, was parked on the side of a road in California when a tree on the other side of the road toppled over and fell on it. Despite getting a serious whack from the tree, the truck was apparently still driveable and seems to have avoided mechanical damage.
More: Two Wild Crashes Prove Tesla Model Y’s Glass Roof Is Tougher Than It Looks
It appears the brunt of the impact has been taken by the driver’s side front quarter panel and part of the steel frunk. Part of the tree has knocked off the plastic fender, but the panels have done an excellent job of withstanding the hit. Another limb of the tree landed on the top, shattering the glass but not caving the roof in as it might have with a different car.
For as well as this Cybertruck held up, it’s impossible to say how any other vehicle would have handled the same scenario. Falling tree accidents are inherently unpredictable. Car roofs are often crushed by falling trees, but no two accidents are identical, making direct comparisons difficult. It’s also plausible that part of the tree trunk struck the ground before the limbs hit the Cybertruck, potentially absorbing some (or even a lot ) of the impact.
Read: Cybertruck Went Up In Flames At Tesla Dealership In Georgia Hours Before Vegas Blast
It’s also worth pointing out that while the Tesla seems to have avoided catastrophic damage, it’s unclear whether it will survive. Body repair costs for vehicles with unique materials like stainless steel can quickly spiral into exorbitant territory. Even if the truck is mechanically sound, the insurance company might still decide it’s not worth fixing and declare it a total loss. If that happens, the Cybertruck could end up heading to an auction, where its battle scars might make for an interesting conversation piece.