The U.S. Army has confirmed that the Tesla Cybertruck can’t be imported into Europe and cannot obtain an exemption for army personnel because the electric pickup truck “deviates significantly” from EU regulations.

When deployed overseas, U.S. Army personnel are permitted to import their personal vehicles with them through Army logistics, rather than purchasing or renting one locally.

However, the vehicles must comply with local laws and regulations.

The U.S. Army Customs Agency issued a notice this week that it can’t import the Tesla Cybertruck in Europe.

Advertisement – scroll for more content

In the notice, the customs agency explained why:

The Cybertruck has no type-approval from the European Union (EU) due to significant passive safety concerns. Several specifications of the Cybertruck, particularly the sharp-edged, stiff stainless-steel body, violate EU safety standards, primarily for the protection of vulnerable road users.

EU safety standards do not only focus on the safety of the vehicle occupants but also on the safety of other road users and in particular of vulnerable road users such as pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorcyclists. These standards require, for example, passive safety features such as impact protection zones prohibiting sharp edges on the vehicle body and speed limiters on vehicles weighing over 3.5 tons – requirements clearly violated by the Cybertruck.

The agency says that it nonetheless tried to get authorization from the German Federal Ministry of Transport for an exemption for US military, but it was denied.

They wrote:

After a legal review, the German Ministry of Transport denied the request, because the Tesla Cybertruck not only fails to meet the EU legal requirements but deviates significantly from them.

The U.S. Army Customs Agency has confirmed that it will not issue import certificates for Tesla Cybertrucks, and army personnel importing Cybertrucks must do so at their own risk.

Here’s the full notice from the U.S. Army Customs Agency:

No Cybertrucks on German Roads

By Astrid Glockner, Customs Translator/Operations Specialist, Customs Executive Agency

WIESBADEN, Germany

It might come as a surprise to U.S. citizens, but it is true: Tesla’s Cybertrucks are currently not allowed to be imported or registered in Germany (or the EU).

The Cybertruck has no type-approval from the European Union (EU) due to significant passive safety concerns. Several specifications of the Cybertruck, particularly the sharp-edged, stiff stainless-steel body, violate EU safety standards, primarily for the protection of vulnerable road users.

EU safety standards do not only focus on the safety of the vehicle occupants but also on the safety of other road users and in particular of vulnerable road users such as pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorcyclists. These standards require, for example, passive safety features such as impact protection zones prohibiting sharp edges on the vehicle body and speed limiters on vehicles weighing over 3.5 tons – requirements clearly violated by the Cybertruck.

Nevertheless, the U.S. Forces submitted an inquiry to the German Federal Ministry of Transport (FMoT) about the possibility for members of the U.S. forces to import and register Cybertrucks in the USAREUR-AF system.

After a legal review, the German Ministry of Transport denied the request, because the Tesla Cybertruck not only fails to meet the EU legal requirements but deviates significantly from them. This means that a Cybertruck could also not receive national individual vehicle approval. According to the FMoT, a safe operation in German public road traffic, which is a prerequisite for registration of a privately owned vehicle by the U.S. Forces in accordance with the Supplementary Agreement to the NATO SOFA, is not ensured.

Another concern is that the Cybertruck would attract a lot of attention when operated in public traffic. This would defeat the purpose of issuing USAREUR-AF cover plates for force protection. It is commonly known that the Cybertruck cannot be registered and operated in Germany.

For the above reasons, U.S. Army Customs Agency will not issue import certificates for Tesla Cybertrucks. Personnel who nevertheless decide to import a Cybertruck, risk having to ship the vehicle back to the US at their own expense.

Electrek’s Take

This is something we have known since Tesla unveiled the Cybertruck in 2019.

Tesla took reservations from all over the world, but it was clear that the vehicle would need significant modifications to comply with many markets.

Given the current low demand for the Cybertruck, I doubt Tesla will go to the trouble of doing that.

Instead, the automaker has focused on launching the electric pickup truck in a few overseas markets that allow it as is, such as South Korea and the UAE.

Delivery service DoorDash has unveiled a new autonomous delivery robot called Dot, which was developed entirely in-house and is currently rolling out early access testing in one state. This bug-like “clanker” may be cute, but it also appears quite well designed for commercial operations and safe, timely food and grocery deliveries. Check out Dot in action in the video below.

In its twelve years of existence, DoorDash has become a household name in food delivery services and currently operates the largest platform with the most significant US market share in its segment. In a world of fiber internet, same-day order deliveries, and next-generation computers in our pockets, the “want it now” mentality has become increasingly common. Services like Uber Eats, Grubhub, and DoorDash continue to invest in, develop, and utilize technology to deliver to customers what they want faster.

We’ve seen autonomous robotaxi networks partner with food delivery services, but what has emerged as an even more viable option is the deployment of autonomous delivery robots. These tiny electric vessels do not require a human driver. Better yet, they can navigate sidewalks and bike lanes – again getting college students or remote workers their coffee, lunch, or groceries even faster.

Today’s robot news from DoorDash is by no means novel, as the delivery service is a bit late to the party. Over the past two years, we’ve covered the rollout of similar autonomous vessels from a slew of competitors, including Starship Technologies, Vayu, and Serve Robotics, as well as drone deliveries with Wing and Uber Eats deliveries in bespoke vehicles developed by Nuro.

Advertisement – scroll for more content

While DoorDash is not the first to deploy delivery robots, it has unveiled an impressive new clanker it calls “Dot,” designed entirely in-house by DoorDash Labs. Check it out.

DoorDash unveiled its new Dot robot design this morning, hailing it as the first commercial autonomous bot designed to traverse bike lanes, roads, sidewalks, and driveways. Again, most of the robots mentioned above have been doing this for years. Well, DoorDash’s Dot has digital eyeballs that move though (So does Serve Robotics’, sorry).

All jokes aside, Dot does look like a viable delivery robot from what we’ve seen in videos also posted by DoorDash today (one of which we’ve embedded below). According to DoorDash, Dot is one-tenth the size of a car and can travel at speeds of up to 20 mph.

It was designed to specifically support local businesses by offering nearby customers a quicker and more seamless delivery solution for food services, and a natural next step in the commercial goods delivery industry. Per DoorDash cofounder and head of DoorDash Labs, Stanley Tang:

You don’t always need a full-sized car to deliver a tube of toothpaste or pack of diapers. That’s the insight behind Dot. The breakthrough wasn’t just making it autonomous, but in making it reliable and efficient to serve the needs of local businesses and consumers. Dot is purpose-built for the millions of deliveries we facilitate every day. It is small enough to navigate doorways and driveways, fast enough to maintain food quality, and smart enough to optimize the best routes for delivery. Every design decision, from its compact size to its speed to the sensor suite, came from analyzing billions of deliveries on our global platform and understanding what actually moves the needle for merchants and consumers.

Dot is merely one piece of DoorDash’s new Autonomous Delivery Platform – a developed system designed to help coordinate and monitor various delivery methods at scale. DoorDash described the approach as a multi-modal delivery system that will consist of human “Dashers”, robots, and even drones. Per the release:

The Autonomous Delivery Platform serves as an AI dispatcher, matching each order with the optimal delivery method based on factors like speed, cost, location, and experience. Whether that’s a Dasher, a Dot on the road, a drone in the air, or a sidewalk robot, the platform orchestrates these decisions in real-time to optimize across our entire global network

To begin, DoorDash has deployed its Dot delivery robots in Mesa and Tempe, Arizona, as part of an early access program. There is no word yet on where the robots might be expanded to next, but if you live in Arizona, keep an eye out for red robotic bugs donning a DoorDash logo. As promised, you can see more of the DoorDash Dot in the video below:

With its official debut just around the corner, we are finally getting our first look at the interior of the Cayenne EV, which Porsche promises will offer more luxury, features, and screen space than ever.

Here’s our first look at the Porsche Cayenne EV interior

Porsche unveiled the first undisguised look at the Cayenne Electric on Tuesday, starting with the interior. The brand is known for its luxurious, sports-car-like interiors, but the electric SUV will take it to the next level.

At the center of it all is the new Innovative Flow Display, offering more screen space than any Porsche vehicle to date.

The curved OLED display features nearly 42″ of combined screen space, including a 14.25″ digital driver cluster, 12.3″ infotainment, and an optional 14.9″ passenger display.

Advertisement – scroll for more content

For the first time, the Cayenne EV will be available with a head-up display (HUD) featuring augmented reality (AR) capabilities. The immersive 87″ display projects navigation, lane guidance, and more directly on the windshield in front of the driver.

The redesigned display is designed to create “an even more immersive and intense connection between driver and sports car,” Ivo van Hulten, Director Driver Experience at Style Porsche, said.

Don’t worry, Porsche still kept plenty of physical buttons and knobs to control various functions. It also maintains the three-spoke steering wheel found in current Porsche models.

The “tailor-made” Cayenne EV will offer more customization options than ever, “creating virtually unlimited possibilities to tailor the cabin to personal taste – from understated and elegant to distinctively sporty,” Porsche said.

You will be able to choose from 13 interior color combinations, four packages, and five accent packages, making it truly one of a kind.

If you’re looking for even more customization, the Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur can bring it to life, the company said, “right down to one-off creations.” According to Porsche, “the Cayenne Electric offers a level and breadth of personalization opportunities that have never been seen in a Porsche SUV.”

The electric SUV also offers significantly more space and comfort features than the current gas and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) models. However, Porsche has yet to reveal specifics.

Another new feature is what Porsche calls “Mood Modes,” which adjust the light, climate, sound, and seat functions to create a unique driving experience for relaxing, focusing on road trips, and more.

A new surface heating function has also been added, which warms the seats, armrests, and sections of the door handle.

Like many new vehicles nowadays, the electric SUV will feature an AI-powered voice assistant. However, Porsche promises that the added gaming, streaming, and other functions will elevate the Cayenne Electric’s digital experience to a new level.

After unveiling the interior, Porsche confirmed the Cayenne EV will debut by the end of the year. It will join the current gas and PHEV models, redefining the interior experience.

What do you think of the new Porsche interior? With massive screens, ambient lighting, and AI voice assistance, it looks pretty close to what Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and other luxury automakers are transitioning to in their next-generation vehicles.