Report: Tesla Cybertruck Will Be a Heavy Duty Truck – Here Is What It Means In Terms of Efficiency, Safety, and Weight

The Cybertruck may compete against the Ford F-250, not the F-150.

Tesla Cybertruck HD 2500

Tesla tells California regulators that its upcoming Cybertruck will “likely” be classified as a class-2B or class-3 heavy duty truck! It would put the Cybertruck a weight class above the Ford F-150. This news also gives us hints about the truck’s curb weight, safety, and fuel efficiency.

This report comes to us via the following AutoNews article.

Before we dig into what this means for the Cybertruck, here is a quick reminder about U.S. truck weight classifications. Some trucks fall neatly into their classifications, while others cross over to higher classes.

ClassificationGVWRExample
Class 10 – 6,000 lbsToyota Tacoma
Class 2a6,001 – 8,500 lbsFord F-150
Class 2b8,501 – 10,000 lbsRam HD 2500
Class 310,001 – 14,000 lbsChevy HD 3500
Class 4 14,001 – 16,000 lbsFord F-450 Chassis
Class 5 16,001 – 19,500 lbsChevy HD 5500
Class 619,501 – 26,000 lbsFord F-650
Class 726,001 – 33,000 lbsFord F-750
Class 8 33,001+ lbs Semi truck

Some trucks that cross over this classification are:

  • 2019 Ford Ranger is a Class 2a, not a Class 1.
  • 2020 Chevy Silverado 2500 is a Class 3, not a Class 2b.

Tesla Cybertruck

What can we learn from the Cybertruck’s Class 2b or Class 3 classification? Tesla officially listed the Cybertruck payload at 3,500 lbs. We are fairly certain that the Cybertruck curb weight will be over 5,000 lbs. 5,000 lbs plus 3,500 lbs is already pushing it into HD 2500 territory.

A current 2019 Tesla Model X long range weighs precisely 5,400 lbs with no people or cargo in it, as we verified at a truck-stop scale. It’s likely that a Cybertruck will weigh more than a Model X. The Cybertruck may be using a bigger and heavier battery than the Model X’s approximately 100 kWh. If we assume the Cybertruck Tri-motor AWD curb weight at around 6,500 lbs, then it can easily be a Class 3 heavy duty.

If the Cybertruck has a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of 8,501 lbs or more, then it is not required to be rated by the EPA for efficiency.

For comparison, here are the MPGe (MPG-equivalent) efficiency ratings for a 2020 Tesla Model X.

If the Cybertruck has a GVWR of 10,001 lbs or more, then it is not required to be equipped with air bags. Although, it still must been body structure crush strength and seat belt regulations. The upcoming Bollinger B1 and B2 are going this route with Class 3 (10,001 lbs weight rating).