Tesla Sparks Controversy with Cybertruck Light Bar Accessory
Tesla, the electric vehicle giant, has once again found itself at the center of controversy with its latest accessory for the Cybertruck. The company is offering a large light bar that is raising eyebrows due to its questionable legality for road use.
The light bar, which cannot be legally installed by Tesla, has prompted the automaker to employ an unusual workaround. Tesla partially installs the accessory and then directs customers to third-party shops for completion. This approach was recently highlighted by tech reviewer Marques Brownlee, who shared his experience of receiving a partially installed light bar from Tesla.
In what appears to be a thin technicality, Tesla glues the light bar to the top of the windshield but leaves it unwired. The company then provides customers with contact information for local shops to complete the installation, allowing Tesla to technically avoid breaking installation laws.
Light bars are popular additions to pickup trucks and SUVs but are illegal for street use in many states. Some jurisdictions mandate that these accessories be covered when not in use. Despite these legal restrictions, many truck owners choose to disregard these rules.
What sets this situation apart is Tesla’s unique position as an automaker producing and selling an accessory that it cannot legally install. This move aligns with Tesla’s reputation for challenging industry norms and pushing boundaries.
The necessity of the light bar is further called into question given the Cybertruck’s questionable off-roading capabilities. Recent reports of reliability issues have also undermined the vehicle’s claims of ruggedness and being “Apocalypse-proof.”
Tesla’s decision to sell an accessory it cannot legally install seems to mirror the controversial nature of the Cybertruck itself. This latest development underscores Tesla’s ongoing tendency to challenge conventional practices in the automotive sector, even when it means treading into legally ambiguous territory.
