Tesla Cybertruck: Heavy Vehicle License Required in France

While the first delivery is scheduled for November 30, the Tesla Cybertruck reveals a little, and it’s not a ballerina!

Like all manufacturers, Tesla is required to report to the US transportation regulatory authority NHTSA (National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration) numerous characteristics of its vehicles before they go on sale. This is the case today with the publication of the initial options for the Cybertruck’s powertrain and the vehicle’s gross vehicle weight.

A VIN decoder submission is necessary!

The fourth digit of the VIN, the unique international vehicle identification number, identifies the Cybertruck with the letter « C ». But where things get interesting is with the eighth digit, which represents the engine, drive unit, and braking system of the vehicle. Options for the Cybertruck include « D » for « Dual Motor – Standard » and « E » for « Triple Motor – Performance ». There will indeed be a three-motor performance version as we previously announced.

The document also provides an overview of the maximum weight of the vehicle with passengers and cargo. The sixth digit of the VIN indicates, for the basic version, the letter « G » for a Cybertruck weight between 8,001 and 9,000 pounds, or between 3,629.19 and 4,082.33 kg. Another version, probably the Performance, falls into the « H » class, between 9,001 and 10,000 pounds, or 4,082.78 to 4,535.92 kg. For comparison, the best-selling model in the segment, the Ford F-150 Lightning Platinum, has a GVWR of 8,550 pounds, or 3,878.21 kg. So, it fits within the standards of the category, but for France, this has a significant consequence!

In France, driving a vehicle over 3.5 tons requires a special C1 license called “Heavy Goods Vehicle”. It will therefore not be possible to drive a Tesla Cybertruck in France with a standard auto license B. It’s hard to imagine the Cybertruck being reserved solely for professionals, but the law is the law. A Light version for Europe? No trace in the NHTSA records.

Unfortunately, no analysis of the VIN reveals prices, battery capacity, or estimated range of the vehicles, but at least on these points, we should not be disappointed.