A Tesla Cybertruck was wrecked in a massive multi-vehicle accident in Texas.
The EV’s bed was torn off, and seven other vehicles were damaged in the crash.
Police say the Mercedes driver suffered a medical episode before losing control.
Another Tesla Cybertruck has been wrecked, and this time it’s not because it’s been attacked by vandals angry at the automaker’s CEO Elon Musk, or due to some alleged failure of the driver-assist systems. Instead, a Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen was the culprit after its driver reportedly suffered a medical emergency, plowing into no fewer than seven vehicles. The Cybertruck took the worst of it, with its bed ripped clean off in the chaos.
Footage and images from the scene show a dark-colored Cybertruck brandishing promotional graphics for Keane Landscaping (they say there’s no such thing as bad publicity, right?) cut in half in the road outside the Dallas Cowboys HQ.
The front end of the truck appears untouched, but everything behind the rear seats is gone, including the bed, frame, and the suspension, motor, and wheels, which can all be seen lying several feet away. Of the eight vehicles involved in the smash, the Cybertruck definitely came off worst, but that doesn’t mean the other cars which, like the Tesla, were all parked and unoccupied, didn’t take some serious hits.
A Ford Mustang, F-series truck, Hyundai Santa Fe, Tesla sedan, and others received major panel damage, but spare a thought for the Mercedes G-wagon, which was given such a smack it was flipped onto its roof and can be seen being righted in CBS’s video.
Police say the accident in Frisco, Texas, was the result of the Mercedes G-Wagen driver suffering a medical episode while behind the wheel last Friday, driving at the intersection of Avenue of the Champions and Cowboys Way. The driver was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, according to news reports, and won’t be charged with any driving offenses.
Looking at the amount of damage caused, he must have really hoofed that right pedal, with disastrous, but thankfully not fatal consequences. We imagine that in the future, car safety systems might be able to spot and prevent accidents like this, but until that happens, you might want to stay clear of powerful trucks with super-fast acceleration and curb weights flirting with the 6,000-pound mark, especially if you’re on foot.
With a simple tug, the Tesla saved this Ford F-150 from an area of deep snow.
Huge amounts of horsepower and torque help the EV in situations like this.
While the Tesla Cybertruck seems to be a regular target for ridicule, one example was recently able to tow out a Ford F-150 that got stuck in the snow somewhere in Canada. Although there’s a chance that the whole thing was staged, the clip does show that with a good set of rubber, the truck can put all of its electric power to good use.
These videos, shared on the Cybertruck Owners Club forum, were filmed by a group of friends who were out enjoying some snow-filled fun in both the Tesla and a Ford F-150. For reasons that are still unclear, the driver of the F-150 seemed to intentionally reverse into a snowbank just off the side of the road—promptly getting stuck, of course. Classic move.
Now, we could all roll our eyes and assume this whole thing was set up—perhaps the F-150 was driven into the snow just for the Tesla to save the day. But regardless of the setup, the video shows one thing: the Cybertruck can actually get things done when it’s not stuck itself.
Driving on snow can be difficult for any road-going vehicle, but this Cybertruck appears to have been aided by the fact that it rocks a set of Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac tires, providing it with better traction than the standard rubber. We’re not sure if it’s a dual-motor AWD version or a tri-motor Cyberbeast, but it apparently had more than enough power to pull out the Ford with ease.
Despite the occasional viral mishap, the Cybertruck’s electric motors and advanced electronics can be helpful in certain off-roading situations. For example, the Tesla has no trouble storming through some of the most difficult and famous rock-crawling areas in the United States, including ‘Hell’s Revenge’ and the ‘Hot Tub’ in Moab, Utah.
Nikola’s ex-CEO has been fully pardoned by US President Donald Trump.
Trevor Milton has also dropped a trailer for a new documentary about Nikola’s troubles.
He has long protested his innocence and criticized NY’s 90+% conviction rate.
Update: US President Donald Trump has confirmed that he pardoned Trevor Milton. When asked why he did so, Trump told reporters at the White House, “I think he was exonerated. And then they brought him into New York, he had a rough, rough road, and … he was exonerated. It was a big celebration.”
“They say the thing that he did wrong was, he was one of the first people that supported a gentleman named Donald Trump for president,” Trump continued, according to CNBC. “He supported Trump. He liked Trump. I didn’t know him, but he liked him.”
“They persecuted him, they destroyed five years of his life. He… fought for five years of his life, and he did nothing wrong. And he’s a good person,” the President added.
Original story follows below.
In December 2023, Trevor Milton, the founder and former CEO of Nikola, was sentenced to four years in federal prison for engaging in securities and wire fraud. Fast forward to today, and he’s sent out a press release claiming he’s been pardoned by US President Donald Trump. Furthermore, Milton says he’s about to release a documentary that promises to dive deep into the controversies surrounding Nikola.
Trump had criticized hydrogen cars during his 2024 campaign, suggesting the vehicles were prone to exploding. Meanwhile, his advisor and head of the DOGE division, Elon Musk, was locked in an ongoing feud with Trevor Milton, trading barbed insults. A few years ago, Musk tweeted, “Fuel cells = fool sells,” calling the technology “staggeringly dumb” in reference to Nikola’s hydrogen-powered trucks.
Milton, who has been out on bail since his sentencing, has vigorously appealed the court’s decision to lock him up. Originally, he was slapped with a $1 million fine in addition to his prison sentence and three years of supervised release. On top of that, he was ordered to pay Nikola $167.7 million for making false and misleading statements.
The entrepreneur has long pleaded his innocence, and in a YouTube documentary to be released soon, he says he will now tell his side of the story.
“This pardon is not just about me—it’s about every American who has been railroaded by the government, and unfortunately, that’s a lot of people,” Milton said. “It is no wonder why trust and confidence in the Justice Department has eroded to nothing. I wish judges would stop believing whatever the prosecutors feed them so Americans could trust the justice system again. Until that happens, our justice system will continue to erode until there is nothing left.”
“The 90+% conviction rate in New York is appalling and is a result of prosecutors getting whatever they want and putting innocent people in prison,” he added. “I saw firsthand the tactics they use to achieve those guaranteed convictions. I am incredibly grateful to President Trump for his courage in standing up for what is right and for granting me this sacred pardon of innocence.”
The documentary, Conviction of Conspiracy: The Trevor Milton Saga, has been directed by British filmmaker Mark Soldinger. A preview for the film claims it will be “pulling back the curtain on the media firestorm, legal maneuvers, and unseen dynamics that shaped the outcome” of the case.
The film appears to have been produced by Milton himself, and a trailer was shared to his personal YouTube channel. Whether or not it will show an accurate representation of what happened remains to be seen, but it will be interesting to see behind the scenes of Nikola’s struggles.
Today I was issued a full and unconditional pardon by @realDonaldTrump himself. He called me personally to tell me.
This pardon is not just about me—it’s about every American who has been railroaded by the government, and unfortunately, that’s a lot of people. It is no wonder… pic.twitter.com/qpT0jjI6Fy
Nissan will launch over 14 new and facelifted models over the next two years.
North America will get a new Leaf, a new Sentra, and no less than four SUVs.
Highlights from other markets include Micra and Juke EVs, minivans and pickups.
Nissan is having a rough go of it. Between plummeting sales, financial struggles, failed merger talks with Honda, and the resignation of its CEO, things aren’t exactly looking up. But rather than giving up, the Japanese automaker is making its move. With a fresh strategy in place, Nissan is gearing up to unveil a series of new and revamped models by 2027.
The brand’s revamped lineup will feature a mix of combustion, hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and fully electric powertrains. Nissan has already dropped teasers of several models set to roll out over the next two years, targeting various markets across the globe.
For North America, Nissan will roll out a batch of fresh cars, including new generations of the Nissan Leaf EV, the Sentra sedan, and the Rogue SUV, alongside a facelifted version of the Pathfinder.
The New Leaf Becomes A Crossover
First up, the Leaf. No longer a plain-Jane hatchback, the new version is going full crossover, complete with sleeker styling, 19-inch wheels, and a panoramic moonroof. It will be built on the CMF-EV platform, borrowed from the larger Ariya, and will have “significant range improvements” over its predecessor. Oh, and it will be the first Nissan to feature the NACS charging port, so it’s officially Tesla Supercharger-compatible.
It’s worth mentioning that the new Nissan Leaf will be a global offering, not just for North America. It will also be available in Europe, Japan, and Australia.
Rogue and Pathfinder Updates
The 2026 Nissan Rogue (aka the X-Trail in other markets) is getting a powertrain upgrade. It’ll be available in gasoline, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid versions. The e-Power hybrid, which uses a 1.5-liter engine that acts as a generator for the electric motor powering the wheels, is back for another round.
And in case you haven’t been paying attention, the Rogue PHEV will actually be a rebadged Mitsubishi Outlander. Yes, Nissan is using its Renault-Mitsubishi-Nissan alliance to repurpose a Mitsubishi design for this one. If you were hoping for something entirely new, you might want to adjust your expectations.
The Pathfinder, meanwhile, gets a mid-lifecycle facelift, with a new nose that should bring it into line with the rest of Nissan’s lineup. Expect that to be unveiled later this year.
New Sentra And More SUVs
Alongside it, a redesigned Sentra compact sedan will make its debut, with sharper looks that may or may not make you care more about compact sedans in general.
Finally, Nissan has also teased an “adventure-focused SUV” with an electric powertrain that will be manufactured at the Canton Mississippi plant in the US starting in 2027. The yet-unnamed model has a boxy stance and futuristic LEDs, and appears to be smaller than the Rogue and the Pathfinder.
Electric Micra and Juke for Europe
Over in Europe, Nissan is set to launch the fully electric Micra, which will finally get its production version after being teased since 2022. Sharing its underpinnings with the Renault R5 E-Tech, this little EV will likely appeal to those who want to go green while still having a cute, compact car to get around in.
Another important debut for Europe will be the fully electric version of the Nissan Juke, inspired by the Hyper Punk concept. The zero-emission subcompact SUV is different from the ICE-powered Juke, featuring a heavily sculpted bodywork while retaining some of its quirkiness.
In the same region, the Nissan Qashqai will receive the third-gen e-Power hybrid powertrain, which promises better fuel efficiency and reduced emissions.
A New Frontier / Navara For Latin America And A Different Pickup For Australia
Another notable debut is the new Navara/Frontier midsize pickup, set to arrive in 2026. Unfortunately, this rugged truck will be exclusive to Latin American markets (LATAM). From the teaser image, it appears to be a heavily redesigned version of the old Navara, boasting an “evolved design,” upgraded infotainment, and a promising suite of advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS).
The successor of the global-spec Nissan Navara will be a different model, sharing its underpinnings with the Mitsubishi Triton. This one is described as an “all-new one-ton pickup” that will be launched in Australia in 2026.
Indian-Built SUV And Minivan
Nissan is gearing up to launch two new models in India, both of which will be produced at the company’s Chennai factory for domestic sales and exports. First up is a budget-friendly minivan with crossover styling, set to debut in 2025.
This will be followed by a five-seater SUV in 2026, which will be Nissan’s version of the Dacia/Renault Duster, complete with a redesigned front end. Additionally, the company has announced a five-seater SUV for select African markets, though it’s unclear if it will share the same design as the India-bound model.
In Nissan’s home market of Japan, the company will release a facelifted kei car in 2025, along with a new generation of a large minivan featuring the latest hybrid powertrain in 2026.
Ivan Espinosa, Nissan’s current chief planning officer and future CEO, had this to say:
“Over the next two years, we are excited to roll out an impressive lineup that will redefine the road! This includes the reimagined Nissan LEAF, and a daring new Micra EV. But that’s not all – we’re refreshing our range of SUVs to elevate the driving experience, and our next-generation e-POWER promises new levels of refinement and efficiency. We are committed to investing in products that embody the very best of Nissan. To our passionate fans and loyal owners around the world, I can assure you, this is just the beginning of an exciting journey ahead.”
The Skycamp Mini tent mounts to R1T and R1S, turning both into overlanding machines.
The tent has been created in partnership with iKamper and includes a self-inflating mattress.
Rivian also offers a $2,800 two-person tent and a $1,400 Travel Kitchen for adventurous owners.
Rivian has teamed up with camping gear brand iKamper to offer a new rugged tent designed for the R1T truck and R1S SUV. Considering both of these vehicles are made with adventure-loving drivers in mind, it makes sense that Rivian would offer such a product directly through their Gear Shop.
The tent, known as the Skycamp Mini, weighs 137 lbs (61.8 kg) and has been designed to be mounted to roof racks on either the R1T or R1S, or to sit over the bed of the R1T. iKamper’s tent is housed within a hardshell and folds out into position in just a minute. According to the company, the aerodynamic design of the shell does not hinder the driving range of the two Rivian models.
Other Rivian touches present include blacked-out hardware and Rivian branding. It’s constructed using breathable PFAS-free fabric, sleeps 1 or 2 people, and is suitable for year-round use, regardless of the season. It also comes standard with a self-inflating mattress and locking crossbar brackets compatible with Rivian’s Adventure Key set.
The Price Tag
Here’s where things get a bit tricky. iKamper already sells a nearly identical version of the Skycamp Mini, just without Rivian’s branding, for $3,895. But the Rivian-branded version—because, apparently, the logo makes it worth more—comes in at $4,595. Sure, some might think it’s worth the premium for the exclusive Rivian flair, but for many, that’s a tough pill to swallow.
This isn’t the only rooftop tent Rivian offers. For the past couple of years, it’s been selling a $2,800 two-person tent for the R1S created in partnership with Yakima. However, unlike the iKamper option, this one does not have a hardshell case, or a self-inflating mattress.
If you’re planning to turn your R1 into a full-on mobile base camp, you’ll also need to shell out another $1,400 for the Travel Kitchen, which Rivian also sells. This setup includes two cooktops powered by a 1500W system that runs off a 120V outlet. It folds away for storage, and it’s part of the expanding Adventure Gear lineup.
This heavily modified Tesla Cybertruck also includes a gloss black wrap.
A large fixed rear lip spoiler has also been added, as has a new front bumper.
The EV retains its original charging port on the rear passenger fender flare.
Not too long ago, Mansory did what we thought was impossible: it made the Tesla Cybertruck look even worse with its hilarious ‘Elongation.’ While it’s quickly become the most talked-about modded Cybertruck, it’s far from the first and a Mexican company has already crafted its own take on the controversial electric truck.
This Tesla has been brought to life by Billion Group and sports a crazy widebody kit that makes it stand out. We’ll let you be the judge of whether it stands out for all the right reasons, or if it’s for all the wrong reasons.
Billion dressed the stainless steel panels in a gloss black wrap which – to our surprise – actually suits the Cybertruck quite nicely. It has then bolted on a set of flared arches and while the company didn’t mention the dimensions, they certainly look wider than the widebody kit built by Waido.
Adding flared arches to the Cybertruck is a little more difficult than some other vehicles. The rear arch on the passenger side houses the charging port, so the tuner likely had to extend some of the cables to make it suit the bigger flares. Additionally, the two front arches house a pair of rear-facing cameras, and they, too, have been retained with this widebody kit.
Other flamboyant upgrades include a new front bumper that extends a little lower than the standard bumper. It’s also been fitted with a set of aftermarket 26-inch black wheels, a large fixed rear spoiler, and a new LED front light bar that includes the Mexican firm’s logo.
Space Camper’s Cap transforms the Cybertruck into a van or camper from $6,385.
The Cap increases interior height by 5 inches, offering 40 inches of total usable space.
Optional extras include roof tents, wall storage, LED lighting, and even a shower kit.
Love it or hate it, there’s no denying the Cybertruck has carved out its niche. It might split opinions even harder than its sharp angles and stainless steel skin, but that hasn’t stopped buyers from snapping them up, making it the best-selling vehicle priced over $100,000 in the first half of 2024. Naturally, those sales have fueled a growing market for accessories, with independent companies eager to cash in.
One of the more interesting offerings comes from Space Camper, whose latest product, the Cap, turns the back of Tesla’s electric pickup into either a mobile living space or a practical, enclosed cargo area.
The Cap essentially reimagines the Cybertruck’s profile, flattening the roofline to give it the silhouette of an SUV or a panel van. It also adds five inches (13 cm) of height, resulting in an interior space that stands 40 inches (101 cm) tall from the bed floor. By default, it comes in gloss black, but for anyone who’s particular about color coordination, it can be wrapped in any shade you prefer.
Functional Features & Camper Potential
When paired with optional accessories like spanner bars, mole panels, and roof bars, the Cap takes the Cybertruck’s utility up a notch. It’s especially well-suited for camper conversions as it’s compatible with most roof tents and awnings, offering buyers a solid foundation to build their dream overlanding setup.
Inside, you can fit a mattress, wall-mounted storage, LED lights, and even a projector if you’re aiming for a cozy, all-in-one mobile home vibe. And yes, there’s even an optional shower kit if you want to round out the creature comforts.
Despite its added bulk, the Cap keeps things relatively lightweight at 170 lbs (77 kg) without extras. According to the company, the aerodynamic profile reduces the Cybertruck’s range by around 4-9%, though as always, actual mileage will vary depending on how heavy your right foot is. The roof supports up to 270 lbs (122 kg) while driving, and 650 lbs (295 kg) when parked.
Pricing & Delivery Details
Space Camper plans to begin deliveries of the Cap in June 2025. Pricing starts at $6,385, albeit without the optional extras highlighted in the video. Beyond a roof tent and awning of their choice, camping enthusiasts will need to budget an additional $180 for ventilation fans, $450 for the custom mattress, $450 for bed lights, $830 for wall storage, $900 for the projector kit, and $1,245 for the shower kit.
For buyers planning to use their Cybertruck more like a work van, functional add-ons like spanner bars and mole panels are $175 each, while a set of roof-mounted crossbars costs $270.
Space Camper isn’t stopping at the Cap. The company has also developed the Wedge, a more involved camper conversion first teased through a series of renderings back in 2022. Priced at $24,000, production has been delayed due to funding issues, though Space Camper claims the final design is ready and aims to kick off manufacturing this summer.
Other Alternatives
There are also a few other options for Cybertruck owners eyeing a camper conversion. Another American company, Cybertruck Co, currently offers a similar setup priced between $9,700 and $11,700. For those who prefer something simpler—or cheaper—Tesla itself sells a branded Cyber Tent accessory for $2,975. However, compared to the aftermarket choices, Tesla’s tent seems to fall short on ease of use.
Even with reports of cooling demand, Tesla still managed to move 38,965 Cybertrucks in 2024, ensuring there’s a solid customer base for third-party accessories. As more customization options hit the market, Cybertruck owners have increasing flexibility to tailor their electric trucks for work, adventure, or a bit of both.
An official report cited alcohol, drug impairment, and unsafe speeds as crash contributors.
The Cybertruck caught fire after impact, trapping passengers despite efforts to escape.
The electric vehicle’s handle-less design may have worsened the rescue efforts during the fire.
Testimony from a witness to a fatal crash involving a Tesla Cybertruck in Piedmont, California, last November has raised concerns about both the vehicle’s safety features and the reckless behavior of those involved. According to US court documents, the driver and three passengers were under the influence at the time of the accident, while it was also revealed that the doors could not be opened.
Three of the four occupants of the Tesla were killed in the devastating crash. The family of Matthew Riordan owned the Cybertruck, and he told investigators that his friend, 19-year-old Soren Dixon, had begged him to take the truck out while at a party. Riordan ultimately relented, allowing Dixon to drive the Cybertruck, with friends Jack Nelson, Krysta Tsukahara, and Jordan Miller joining for the ride. Riordan followed behind in another car and witnessed the crash.
An autopsy later revealed that Dixon was twice the legal alcohol limit at the time of the crash and also had cocaine and methamphetamine in his system. In interviews with investigators, Riordan stated that he frantically tried to save the others but was only able to pull Miller from the wreckage.
“I could hear Krysta yelling and the car saying ‘crash detected,” Riordan said. “I went back to the broken window and yelled for them to try to get out at this window … Krysta tried to come up, sticking her head (out) from the back, I grabbed her arm to try and pull her towards me, but she retreated because of the fire.” He also tried the doors, but they wouldn’t budge.
“Nothing budged at all,” he said. “I then tried the button on the windshield of Jordan’s door, then Krysta’s door,” but he couldn’t open the doors. Riordan was only able to pull Miller from the burning Tesla after desperately smashing a window with a tree branch.
It’s unclear why Riordan wasn’t able to open the doors of the Cybertruck, but it’s quite possible they had automatically locked when Dixon started driving and couldn’t be opened from the outside. An official report from the California Highway Patrol has blamed the crash on a combination of alcohol intoxication, drug impairment, and unsafe speeds.
However, it’s worth noting that Tesla models, including the Model Y and Model S, do have a feature that automatically unlocks the doors when the airbags have been fired. Many other cars also have this feature, but we haven’t been able to verify if the Cybertruck also has this function.
A key issue with the Cybertruck is that it doesn’t have any exterior door handles. Instead, you need to press a button on the pillar to unlatch the door, and finding those buttons in the midst of a blazing inferno could be very difficult.
During the towing weight hitch stress test, the Cybertruck’s frame broke clean off.
The same test was performed on an old Ram, and it withstood even more pressure.
Tesla has built the Cybertruck’s lightweight frame from cast aluminum to reduce weight.
Last year, YouTuber WhistlinDiesel made headlines after snapping the frame of his Tesla Cybertruck during one of his infamous durability tests. Fast forward to today, and another YouTuber, also a Cybertruck owner, decided to take it upon himself to see if Tesla’s electric truck is really as sturdy as it claims.
Unlike traditional pickup trucks that rely on solid steel frames, the Cybertruck is built with cast aluminum. Tesla received plenty of praise for pioneering the use of gigacasting technology in the automotive industry, but the choice to use a cast aluminum frame is starting to raise some concerns with each new test.
According to Tesla, the Cybertruck has a maximum towing capacity of 11,000 lbs (4,990 kg). To test how strong the frame really is, YouTuber JerryRigEverything attached a crane scale to measure the amount of force the hitch was subjected to. The force came from a massive excavator pushing down on the hitch.
Towing Capacity vs Tongue Weight
Something we need to stress (pun intended) here is that this test measures tongue weight, not tow capacity. Tongue weight refers to the downward force exerted by the trailer on the hitch, while towing tests evaluate how much weight the vehicle can pull in a horizontal direction. These are distinct stress tests, so comparing the two directly can be misleading. As many manufacturers point out, for ball-mounted hitches, the tongue weight is typically 10 to 15 percent of the total loaded trailer weight.
Back to the test, after sustained pressure, the hitch started to crack and, at just over 10,000 lbs (4,536 kg), it snapped completely. As if that weren’t bad enough, aluminum lacks a fatigue limit, meaning it becomes progressively weaker each time it’s stressed. Steel, on the other hand, doesn’t have this issue. This means that, at least in theory, Cybertrucks constantly towing heavy loads could potentially see their frames weaken over time—hardly ideal for a vehicle marketed as tough and durable.
Of course, as mentioned before, the weight in this test was applied downward, while most of the force from towing would be applied outward. This means the Cybertruck shouldn’t have any major issues if it keeps its trailer load under capacity.
JerryRigEverything suggested that hitting a large pothole at, say, 80 mph (129 km/h) with an 11,000 lb load could potentially generate enough force to damage the Cybertruck’s frame. However, this is purely theoretical, and we have to assume Tesla accounted for such scenarios when developing the vehicle and determining its capacities
Nevertheless, for comparison, the team also tested an old Ram 2500, which survived a 10,500 lbs (4,763 kg) tongue weight load without so much as a hiccup. So yeah, Tesla might have a bit of work to do when it comes to making the Cybertruck a true workhorse.
Toyota’s electric pickup teaser hints at a new model distinct from the upcoming Hilux EV.
The double-cab design suggests a departure from previous single-cab electric prototypes.
Speculation suggests it could be a production version of the 2023 EPU Concept model.
Electric pickup trucks are becoming an increasingly common sight as a growing number of eco-conscious buyers look to combine practicality and ruggedness with zero emissions. Toyota is now teasing an all-electric pickup of its own, though this new model appears unrelated to the electric Hilux currently in development for Thailand and Australia.
A single teaser image showing the truck’s silhouette was shown at Toyota’s event in Belgium last night, where the company also unveiled the new bZ4X, C-HR+, and 2026 Lexus RZ. The mystery pickup was teased alongside two other upcoming Toyota models—one of which may be the electric three-row SUV that has reportedly been pushed back to 2026.
As noted by InsideEVs, the pickup shown in this teaser has a double-cab design, unlike the single-cab electric Hilux previewed in Thailand this time last year. It also doesn’t look like the double-cab Hilux prototype Toyota is testing alongside mining giant BHP in Australia.
One possibility is that the new electric pickup being developed by Toyota could be a production-ready Tacoma EV, inspired by a concept shown to the world in late 2021. But, given that the Tacoma nameplate isn’t used on European soil, it may indicate at a production version of the EPU Concept from 2023, a compact electric pickup that’s apparently due to hit the market in 2027 in key markets like South America.
Given that we don’t know exactly what we’re looking at, technical details about a potential new electric truck from Toyota remain a mystery. It would conceivably be based on one of the brand’s existing platforms and likely be offered with the same improved electric motors as found in the updated bZ4X and the new C-HR+.
While speaking about the three unidentified future models, Toyota Motor Europe president and chief executive Yoshihiro Nakata said, “these three parts [of the EV strategy] will focus on enhancing the customer’s lifestyle just as powerfully as they enhance our carbon neutrality goals.”
Elon Musk previously said Tesla would set about rebuilding the destroyed EV.
Matthew Alan Livelsberger shot himself before an explosion ripped through the Tesla.
It appears the listing was pulled before the Cybertruck was assigned to an auction.
The Tesla Cybertruck that was detonated outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas on January 1 briefly appeared for auction yesterday before being quickly removed. It’s perhaps the last car we would have expected to see listed for sale, and it’s unclear why the auction was pulled—other than, well, the apparent fact that selling the Cybertruck would have been rather morbid.
At approximately 8:39 a.m. on January 1, U.S. Army Special Forces soldier Matthew Alan Livelsberger pulled up outside the Trump hotel in Las Vegas. He had rented the truck on Turo and filled it with fireworks, camping fuel, and gas tanks. While sitting in the driver’s seat, Livelsberger shot himself, moments before the explosion. Seven people were injured, but fortunately, no innocent bystanders were killed.
Local emergency responders and Elon Musk quickly praised the strength of the Cybertruck, noting that the stainless steel body helped contain the explosion. Shortly after the incident, Musk claimed that Tesla would “buff out the scratches and get it back on the road,” adding that the powertrain remained fully operational despite the explosion.
As reported by Jalopnik, auction photos shared on IAA show that the Cybertruck remains in the same grim condition it was in after investigators tore it apart in the wake of the accident. Initially, much of the roof, the doors, and the pillars remained in place, but they were later removed. A look inside the cabin reveals that most of it has been badly charred, and there’s simply no way of repairing this thing without replacing virtually every single part.
There’s no word on whether Tesla itself was involved in the auction being canceled, but we’d be surprised if the brand decided to rebuild the vehicle. After all, Tesla already has enough on its plate with slowing sales and a tanking stock price. However, history has shown that Musk thrives on publicity—whether good or bad—and rebuilding the vehicle used in a targeted attack could be one way to capture the public’s imagination.
The Tesla Cybertruck costs 30% less to insure on average than a Model 3.
A key factor is that two-thirds of Cybertruck owners have excellent credit.
Even so, its insurance cost remains 45% higher than the national average.
You’d think the most affordable car in an automaker’s lineup would also be the cheapest to insure. Makes sense, right? Well, not for Tesla. In fact, it’s quite the opposite—the Cybertruck, that giant stainless steel wedge, is actually the least expensive Tesla to insure, with significantly lower rates than the entry-level Model 3 sedan.
According to a recent study compiled by Insurify, full-coverage insurance for the Cybertruck costs an average of $3,392 per year. That’s 45% more than the national average ($2,336) and 17% higher than the typical EV ($2,892), but still cheaper than insuring any other model in Tesla’s current lineup.
In fact, the Model 3 has the highest insurance rates in the Tesla lineup with an average of $4,347. That means insuring Tesla’s most affordable model costs 28% more than the Cybertruck, which starts at $79,990, even though the Model 3 is 53% cheaper to buy in its base form at $42,990 before federal and state credits, delivery fees, and taxes.
As for the rest of the pack, full-coverage insurance averages $3,510 for the Model S, $3,658 for the Model X, and $3,832 for the Model Y.
Insurance Costs Across Tesla and EV Models
Model
Starting MSRP*
Avg. Annual Cost Of Full Coverage
Share of Drivers w/ Excellent Credit
Ford F-150 Lightning
$62,995
$3,193
18%
Tesla Cybertruck
$79,990
$3,392
66%
Tesla Model S
$79,990
$3,510
34%
Tesla Model X
$84,990
$3,658
49%
Tesla Model Y
$44,990
$3,832
50%
Tesla Model 3
$42,490
$4,347
13%
EV Average
$56,351
$2,892
35%
National Average
$48,397
$2,336
13%
Source: Insurify / * Before tax credits
SWIPE
Why Is the Cybertruck Cheaper to Insure?
So, what’s behind this insurance pricing paradox? A big factor is credit scores. Insurify found that 66% of Cybertruck drivers have an excellent credit score, compared to just 13% of Model 3 drivers and 35% of EV drivers overall. The Model 3’s lower credit score average is likely tied to its mass-market appeal—Tesla sells a lot more of them, and its buyers tend to be younger and/or have riskier financial profiles.
In particular, half of Cybertruck owners (50%) are in their 40s, while only 14% of Model 3 owners fall into that age group. Since older drivers generally pose less of an insurance risk, this helps keep Cybertruck rates in check.
Even with its relatively low insurance costs, the Cybertruck still isn’t the cheapest electric truck to insure. That title goes to the Ford F-150 Lightning, which averages $3,193 per year or 6% less than the Cybertruck. The Lightning’s lower insurance costs are likely due to its more affordable starting price and cheaper repair costs, despite the fact that only 18% of Lightning owners have excellent credit (compared to the Cybertruck’s 66%).
Will Cybertruck Insurance Rates Stay Low?
That depends. If Tesla lowers the Cybertruck’s entry price, it could attract a younger, riskier demographic, which would likely push insurance rates higher. At the same time, rising EV repair costs could add even more pressure, making premiums climb further. Since EVs are already more expensive to fix than gas-powered cars, any increase in repair expenses could have an outsized impact on insurance pricing.
Broadly speaking, EVs cost more to insure because post-accident repair costs are 30% higher on average, and they’re more likely to be deemed total losses. Batteries, advanced sensors, and proprietary parts make even minor collisions costly. That trend isn’t unique to Tesla, but given its vehicles’ repair complexities, it’s a key factor in the company’s insurance rates.
For now, though, the Cybertruck remains an insurance outlier, one of the rare cases where a high-priced vehicle is cheaper to insure than its budget-friendly sibling. Whether that trend holds depends on how Tesla’s sales, pricing, and repair costs evolve in the years ahead.
A Brooklyn Cybertruck was egged and smeared with dog feces, sparking online debate.
Tesla’s Sentry mode might catch the culprit, provided they didn’t cover their identity.
Vandalism against Teslas, particularly the Cybertruck, has surged amid growing discontent.
Now is an interesting time to own a Tesla. For over a decade, the brand has produced some of the most popular EVs on the market and cultivated a nearly cult-like following, thanks in no small part to its CEO, Elon Musk. However, as Musk has waded deeper into politics, the brand’s once-pristine image seems to be fading, and reports of vandalism against Tesla models appear to be on the rise.
No Tesla model has sparked more debate than the Cybertruck. Its polarizing design, with sharp angles and a body that looks like it was pulled from a rejected 90s sci-fi film, has turned heads for all the wrong reasons. Some fans love it; others, well, would rather see it run off the road. It seems someone in Brooklyn falls into the latter camp, having recently taken their frustrations out on a Cybertruck parked by the side of the road.
Photos shared on Reddit show the damage: the Cybertruck was egged, and to top it off, what looks like dog feces was smeared across its rear. No word yet on whether the vandal has a personal vendetta against the truck, Musk, or just sharp, angular vehicles in general. Either way, they made their point, while wasting some precious eggs in the process. Given egg prices right now, that’s almost a privilege.
While there’s still no word on the identity of the vandal, there’s a chance the owner could track them down if they’re motivated enough. Tesla’s Sentry Mode, which uses external cameras to record suspicious activity, might just have caught the action. If the culprit wasn’t wearing a ski mask or some other form of facial protection, they could be staring down a very incriminating video of their vandalism.
You won’t be surprised to learn that this isn’t the first time a Tesla has been targeted. Back in January, a Cybertruck in Los Angeles became the unfortunate canvas for a group of vandals. After being wrecked in a crash, it was abandoned in a parking lot, only to become an impromptu art project for local miscreants. It wasn’t long before the truck was covered in graffiti, transforming it into an unwanted street attraction.
The update boosts charging speeds for both the 98 kWh and 131 kWh versions of the EV.
Before the update, models with the 98 kWh pack could charge from 15-80% in 32 minutes.
The over-the-air software changes also improve the electronic parking brake system.
Last month, Ford began rolling out an over-the-air software update to F-150 Lightning owners across the United States. While the update introduces only a few changes, one of the most notable is an improvement in DC fast charging times, something that’s bound to be welcomed by owners across the country.
Before the update, F-150 Lightning models with the standard 98 kWh battery could theoretically charge from 15-80% in about 32 minutes, while the larger 131 kWh pack took around 38 minutes for the same. Ford’s release notes for the OTA update don’t give specifics on the exact improvements, only mentioning that the “charging rate at DC fast chargers” has been increased. Thankfully, an owner has given us a clearer picture of just how much faster it charges.
The owner behind the YouTube channel State of Charge has a 2022 Ford F-150 Lighting Lariat with the 131 kWh Extended Range battery. Originally, it typically took him 44-45 minutes to charge from 10-80%. After the latest software update, the F-150 Lightning immediately pulled 500 Amps when connected to the EVgo fast charger, charging at 180 kW.
The truck now charges from 10-80% in 39 minutes and 43 seconds, shaving off 4-6 minutes compared to before. While it’s not a massive time savings, every bit counts and will certainly make charging more convenient for owners.
More Than Just Speed: Some Bug Fixes
Along with the charging improvements, Ford has also addressed a few pesky bugs. They’ve managed to eliminate some annoying false warnings on the instrument panel. Additionally, the software for the electronic parking brake has been tweaked for “more consistent performance.” While that might sound like a minor fix, let’s face it—anything that works better in an electric vehicle is a win, even if it’s just the parking brake.
Carscoops has reached out to Ford regarding the software update, seeking additional information, and will update this post when we hear back.
Chevrolet has introduced the new Silverado EV ZR2 race truck concept.
It features a lifted suspension, Multimatic dampers, and 37-inch mud-terrain tires.
Power is provided by a tri-motor AWD system that produces a combined output of 1,100 hp.
Rugged trucks have been a huge hit with consumers and Chevrolet’s ZR2 lineup is among the most popular. Now, the company is giving us a glimpse at what an electric version could look like.
Unveiled at the Mint 400 off-road race, the Silverado EV ZR2 race truck concept was developed in just five months and is built almost entirely out of production parts. Since it will be taking part in the event, the pickup has been equipped with a lifted suspension and Multimatic continuously adaptive dampers. These changes help to deliver more than 13 inches (330 mm) of wheel travel.
The upgrades don’t end there as the concept has extended fender flares and unique wheels wrapped in 37-inch BF Goodrich KM3 mud-terrain tires. They’re joined by locking differentials, underbody protection, and an assortment of auxiliary lights. Rounding out the highlights are rock rails, red recovery hooks, and a ZR2-branded sport bar.
While the standard Silverado EV has a dual-motor all-wheel drive system producing up to 760 hp (567 kW / 771 PS) and 785 lb-ft (1,063 Nm) of torque, the concept is far more powerful. In fact, it features a tri-motor powertrain with a combined output of 1,100 hp (820 kW / 1,115 PS) and 11,500 lb-ft (15,574 Nm) of torque. Of course, it’s safe to assume the latter figure is more of an exercise in math than anything else.
According to Chevrolet Vice President Scott Bell, “There is no better proving ground to test the limits of our vehicles than competitive racing. The Silverado EV ZR2 race truck concept, which uses 98% GM production parts, showcases some of the best of Chevrolet to produce a beyond-capable pickup to tackle a challenging race of the Mint 400’s magnitude.”
While the ZR2 is simply a concept at this point, Chevrolet revealed the 2026 Silverado EV Trail Boss will arrive this summer. We’ll learn more in the coming weeks, but the truck features a factory-installed lift as well as 18-inch wheels wrapped in 35-inch all-terrain tires.
Federal data show that airline flights are safer than other major transportation modes in the U.S.
A claim about safety was made by U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy after 67 people were killed in the Jan. 29 midair collision of an American Airlines flight and an Army helicopter near Washington’s Ronald Reagan National Airport.
Duffy is a Republican former congressman from northern Wisconsin.
Highway transportation accounts for 95% of fatalities and over 99% of injuries from transportation incidents.
From 2008 through 2022, airline flights had lower passenger death rates than buses, railroad passenger trains and passenger vehicles, according to the latest annual figures.
The rate is deaths per 100,000 passenger miles.
In 2022, the rates were:
0.001: Air
0.004: Bus
0.03: Rail
0.54: Passenger vehicles
There were four fatal airline crashes from 2008 through 2022.
The lifetime odds of dying as an aircraft passenger in the U.S. are “too small to calculate,” the nonprofit National Safety Council said.
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