Tesla Cybertruck stops off in Berlin: Visit to the e-monster

Tesla's e-giant reaching the EU remains uncertain, but the company proceeds with a Cybertruck test drive in Berlin, which we witnessed.

Not on Mars, but in Europe: this is how Tesla advertises its "Cybertruck Odyssey".

(Bild: Tesla)

May 4, 2024 at 11:09 am CEST

5 min. read

Autos

Ben Schwan

This article was originally published in German and has been automatically translated.

The reporter initially got lost. The Cybertruck is not in the usual Tesla store at the Wilhelmstraße entrance to the Mall of Berlin, but in the middle of the square between the two parts of the large shopping centre on Leipziger Platz in the capital. The "Cybertruck Odyssey" will make a stop here from May 2 to 4 – from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. – and will later visit Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Hanover, Munich and Stuttgart before travelling throughout Europe, to over 100 locations in total, according to Tesla. When visiting the location where the e-tractor is parked, it quickly becomes clear why this location was chosen: There would hardly be any more room for visitors in the Tesla store if the Cybertruck had been parked there.

Instead, the large area that is easily accessible to the public and clearly visible from Leipziger Strasse has been occupied. Tesla has left nothing to chance. Employees patrol the perimeter and are happy to provide visitors with information, their chests swelling with pride. Even a police patrol in a blue Sprinter is on site to observe the goings-on. The tattooed policeman seems to be happy because this job is much more pleasant than what else you can experience as a law enforcement officer in Berlin at the beginning of May. On the first day of the Berlin “Cybertruck Odyssey”, people flocked in until the evening to inspect the vehicle, take selfies and admire the eye-catching design. A cyberquad was also placed next to it, which even adults like to sit on.

Look at it, but don't get in

The Cybertruck can be inspected from the outside - from up close if necessary. However, tours of the interior were initially reserved for the press on Thursday morning. Some visitors were disappointed to be so close - and yet so far - from the Cybertruck. You can't even see whether the infamous gas pedal rivet is installed in it. Surprisingly, a Model Y parked next to it - made in Grünheide, of course - attracts almost as much interest as the flatbed giant: One potential buyer after another gets their hands on the steering wheel and is also allowed to try out the funny lift signals in Tesla's operating system to the delight of the bystanders.

Cybertruck in Berlin (12 Bilder)

Wo die Cybertruck-Odyssey haltmacht

Der Cybertruck ist bis Juli zu 100 Orten in Europa unterwegs.
(Bild: Ben Schwan)

According to a Tesla customer advisor on site, the Cybertruck on display is a Cyberbeast. There is only a discreet "Foundation" label on the Cybertruck, which identifies the vehicle as the first series - and not whether it is the dual-motor model or the 630 kW monster. Of course, the Cybertruck is not allowed to be driven in this country. The 5.68-metre-long vehicle arrived at Leipziger Platz by transporter after being shipped to Europe in advance in individual containers at - rumour has it - horrendous prices. A second model is said to be parked in Grünheide. So you can't see the Cybertruck in action, not even the huge truck bed or the tailgate are opened during our visit. Perhaps the boss has already collected the key card?

It's the crowd that does it

Nevertheless, the visit is worthwhile, if only for the fact that you can see the vehicle so often mentioned on the Internet in real life. The enormous length and width, the huge doors, the gigantic single front windshield wiper - all this looks impressive in real life (and American, if you think about parking). The gap dimensions are smaller than those seen on YouTube. However, the Tesla employee emphasizes that this is a production vehicle, not an embellished showpiece.

Nothing on the Cybertruck would remain embellished for long anyway, as fingerprints and handprints can be seen everywhere after a short time. You could call the vehicle a kind of stainless steel refrigerator on wheels. There, too, people would like to wash it, but they can hardly keep up. In the USA, the country where the Cybertruck was launched, Tesla has recognized the problem and offers factory wrapping, which will hopefully also help against potential rust. But to a certain extent, the smudged look also has its charm. If you take the Cybertruck off-road, it will get dirty anyway.