In a recent development, the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS) have revealed their stance on testing the Tesla Cybertruck for safety ratings. While the Cybertruck has undergone in-house crash testing by Tesla and is compliant with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS), it lacks official safety ratings from both organizations.

The NHTSA, responsible for establishing performance requirements for vehicles, does not "approve" new vehicles but instead relies on manufacturers to certify compliance with the standards. While some vehicles undergo direct crash testing by the NHTSA, the Cybertruck is not among them. At present, the NHTSA has not provided any specific crash ratings for the Cybertruck but has listed its safety features such as Front Collision Warning and Lane Departure Warning, which meet performance criteria. The agency has clarified that official ratings will only be assigned once it conducts direct testing on the truck.

As for the IIHS, it currently has no plans to test the Cybertruck, according to Joe Young, a representative of the organization. Young emphasized that regardless of testing by IIHS or the NHTSA's NCAP program, the Cybertruck must meet federal motor vehicle safety standards. It is worth noting that Tesla has received five-star ratings for its vehicles from the NHTSA in the past, adding credibility to their safety claims.

Young also mentioned the possibility of future testing by the IIHS, contingent on consumer interest in the Cybertruck. Furthermore, Tesla has the option to nominate the Cybertruck for testing through the IIHS's testing nomination process, which would speed up the testing procedure. However, availability of the vehicle is a prerequisite for both NHTSA and IIHS testing.

The IIHS also has a verification test program, which allows automakers to submit in-house data and crash test results. However, the Cybertruck is currently ineligible for this program as a new model. It may qualify for verification testing in other areas at the discretion of the IIHS crashworthiness team.

With no official safety ratings from the NHTSA or plans for testing by the IIHS, the safety landscape for the highly anticipated Tesla Cybertruck remains uncertain. The lack of concrete ratings leaves potential buyers unable to gauge the truck's safety performance against recognized standards. However, Tesla CEO Elon Musk has expressed confidence that the Cybertruck is safer than other trucks on the market.

As the Cybertruck continues to generate interest and market demand, it remains to be seen if the vehicle will undergo testing and receive official safety ratings from these prominent organizations in the future.