- UK politician criticizes YouTuber’s Cybertruck, demanding action over its lack of certification.
- The EV is not street legal, meaning that UK residents aren’t allowed to drive it on public roads.
- Yanni Charalambous has been trying to get a Certificate of Conformity for his Cybertruck.
The Tesla Cybertruck has suddenly become a hot topic in British politics after another was spotted cruising the streets, despite not being officially available in the UK or Europe. Currently, the electric truck is illegal to drive in the UK, as it doesn’t meet local regulations. Fail to meet those standards, and authorities could seize it—but that hasn’t stopped some from trying to make it work.
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More: Even With Rubber Edges, Critics Want Tesla’s Cybertruck Off Europe’s Roads
Caroline Russell, Leader of the Green Party in the London Assembly, recently raised the issue with Mayor Sadiq Khan after spotting the Cybertruck owned by Yanni Charalambous, an entrepreneur and YouTuber (you may know him from Matt Watson’s CarWow channel). This came on the heels of the seizure of another Cybertruck earlier this year, which was taken off the streets for violating UK road safety regulations.
A Routine Stop Turns into a Legal Question
According to a report from Forbes, Russell questioned why the Metropolitan Police hadn’t seized Charalambous’ vehicle after officers performed a routine stop, which was captured in one of Yanni’s YouTube videos. She argued that the Cybertruck’s lack of a Certificate of Conformity means the owner can’t legally insure it.
“It’s worrying that Met officers failed to detain a Tesla Cybertruck on the streets of London, apparently unaware that the vehicle is not road legal in the UK,” said Russell. ” It’s frankly terrifying that such a brutal vehicle, designed without a thought for pedestrian safety was able to roam around our city streets. This incompetence is not just disappointing, it’s potentially catastrophic.”
The Mayor Responds
In response to the political outcry, London’s Mayor issued a statement clarifying that the Metropolitan Police had reviewed the YouTube footage:
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“The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) have examined the YouTube video, which appears to show an officer stopping the vehicle, under section 163 of the Road Traffic Act 1988, to check the driver’s documentation before allowing the driver to continue their journey. The MPS Roads Policing Unit will follow up on the driver’s details, inspect the vehicle, and seize the vehicle from a public place if appropriate.”
This means Yanni’s Cybertruck could still be impounded, though the police will first check if the “vehicle has been modified to meet England and Wales legislation” before taking action.
What’s the Deal With Yanni’s Cybertruck?
Yanni’s been trying to make his Cybertruck street-legal in the UK for several months now. In a series of YouTube videos, he’s documented the modifications made to the vehicle, including rubber moldings to cover the truck’s sharp edges, yellow indicators, and rear fog lights. But these changes still haven’t earned him a Certificate of Conformity through the UK’s Individual Vehicle Approval (IVA) process.
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To move things along, the EV was recently shipped to Germany for a TUV inspection, which could help with the certification.
In the meantime, Yanni’s Cybertruck is running on Albanian plates and registration, just as it was when he bought it. In one of his latest videos, he claims that a legal loophole allows him to drive the vehicle on UK roads, so long as he crosses the border every six months.
More: Oh Boy, Mansory Tuned The Cybertruck And Named It The Elongation
According to the UK’s Department for Transport, “A UK resident cannot drive a vehicle displaying foreign number plates in the UK.” When it comes to imported cars like the Cybertruck, they “must not be driven on foreign plates by a UK resident, except to and from an annual safety check or a pre-booked IVA appointment.”
In other words, while the Albanian seller could legally drive the Cybertruck in the UK for up to six months with foreign plates, the same doesn’t apply to Yanni, as he’s a UK resident.
The Other Cybertruck Seized in the UK
Yanni isn’t the only one with a Cybertruck problem. Earlier this year, Greater Manchester Police impounded another Tesla Cybertruck in Whitefield, UK, after it was found to be illegal on the road. This particular model was allegedly owned by the same Albanian individual who sold Yanni his truck.
According to the police statement, the driver of the impounded EV was a permanent UK resident, but the truck was registered and insured abroad. As a result, it was “seized under S165 of the Road Traffic Act” and held until the owner provided the “necessary documentation for the vehicle’s release.” As Forbes reported, the Cybertruck was then transported on a recovery truck to private land, careful to avoid “touching public roads.”
Whether Yanni, and his Albanian connection, will succeed in getting their Cybertrucks legally registered and roadworthy in the UK remains to be seen.
