In a city where Lamborghinis and Ferraris barely earn a second glance, one vehicle managed to bring Milan’s streets to a standstill, as captured in a recent TikTok post. It wasn’t a supercar, but rather Tesla’s polarizing Cybertruck, captured in a viral video that blurred the line between runway spectacle and automotive sideshow.
International model Minju Jo (@iamminjujo) plays up the fact that she’s used to turning heads, with the clips quick-cutting between shots of her lounging in an unidentified vehicle while passersby walk past with their mouths open in disbelief. But it’s the eye-catching Tesla, she argues at the conclusion, that’s drawing the stunned reactions.
The video unfolds like a soundtracked performance piece: no narration, just some captions and a rapid sequence of Italians pausing midstride, their curiosity piqued. At first, viewers might assume the model is the cause, but the punchline lands when it becomes clear: The Tesla Cybertruck, an electric pickup so rare and unexpected in urban Europe, is the real focal point. In a city where high fashion reigns, the Cybertruck stands out not through glamor but sheer audacity.
One commenter even notes: “I am not sure it is even street legal in EU.”
Why The Cybertruck Commands Attention In Europe
Tesla’s Cybertruck, with its blocky, stainless-steel exoskeleton and sharp angles, is a stark contrast to European automotive aesthetics that are sleek, compact, and often understated. This visual chasm is part theater, part shock value. In contrast with the U.S., where dramatic Tesla showings have become almost routine, Europe still finds such scenes extraordinary. The clip in Milan amplifies that cultural dissonance and underlines how design norms and streetscapes shape our perceptions of vehicle artifice.
The most important question provoked by the video: Can you even get a Cybertruck in Europe?
The short answer: not through official channels. Tesla has yet to homologate the Cybertruck for the European market. In December 2023, the company confirmed the model would be available only in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, leaving Europe out entirely of the launch footprint.
European regulators have raised red flags on multiple fronts. Campaign groups have argued the truck “seriously conflicts” with pedestrian safety norms, citing its angular design, questionable crumple zones, and stiff exoskeleton. Technical hurdles, such as red rear lights instead of legally compliant amber indicators, have also hindered registration attempts, even when private parties attempt to import vehicles.
U.K. authorities have gone so far as to ban the Cybertruck outright due to its failure to meet safety standards. In one notable case, police seized a modified Cybertruck in Whitefield for lacking a certificate of conformity and an improperly registered status.
Yet, a few modified units have surfaced. In the Czech Republic, a lightly altered Cybertruck passed an individual vehicle approval, likely due to rubber bumpers softening its sharp edges. Similarly, in the U.K., customizer Yianni Charalambous has struggled to make one road legal via the costly and uncertain IVA process, fitting a rubberized bumper in an attempt to comply.
Even so, the vehicle’s sheer weight—around 3,000-4,000 kg (6,600-8,800 pounds)—puts it beyond the standard B-license weight cap in both EU and U.K., meaning most drivers would need a Category C1 license to legally drive it.
In short: Yes, you can import a Cybertruck into Europe, but making it street-legal is an uphill battle requiring costly modifications and regulatory loopholes.
Tesla’s Place In Europe
Meanwhile, Tesla’s more conventional models—Model 3 and Model Y—have seen widespread success in Europe, buoyed by regulatory compliance, compact design, and robust charging infrastructure. The Cybertruck, by contrast, may never be a mainstream player on European roads.
Yet, its viral image works in Tesla’s favor. The Milan video reinforces Tesla’s identity as a conversation starter, even when it’s not legally present. In a market obsessed with subtlety and sustainability, the Cybertruck plays the role of flamboyant outlier—and that keeps Tesla top of mind, even in territories it may never formally enter.
Whether it’s ever deemed street legal or not, the Cybertruck made its mark in Milan, turning onlookers into unwitting viral stars. In a city defined by fashion, it was neither haute couture nor celebrity charisma that stole the show but cold, angular steel and a promise of what automotive electric futurism might look like.
InsideEVs reached out to Minju Jo via email.
