A YouTuber who imported a Tesla Cybertruck to the UK earlier this year is struggling to get it road-ready due to ongoing safety and regulatory issues.
Yianni Charalambous, whose official YouTube channel Yiannimize boasts a whopping 2.19 million subscribers, is a leading car enthusiast on the platform.
Over the years, he’s helped numerous celebrities custom-wrap their vehicles while working to test wild motors on the regular.
Last month, the petrolhead announced he’d bought the first Tesla Cybertruck in the UK.
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Having purchased it from its previous owner in California, Yianni planned to bring it back to England by ship.
But Auto Evolution reports that he was immediately hit with his first hurdle - being denied transporting the vehicle via ship due to its fire risk.
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After opting to ship the Cybertruck over via plane, the YouTuber has since faced further difficulties while trying to get it on the road.
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These include getting a British license plate (it’s currently fitted with an Albanian one) and changing the red indicator lights.
The Sun reports that in the UK, it is a legal requirement that indicator lights are amber. This is so that other road users can distinguish them from the standard red brake light.
Regulations also state that cars must have indicators on the side mirrors.
Fog lights also need to be installed on the Cybertruck before it can be deemed road-safe as in the UK, only those that turn on with the car’s headlights can be used.
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Another reason that Yianni has failed to get his Tesla on the road is because of its extremely sharp edges.
It’s understood the Cybertruck’s angular body, boot, and blunt front end fail to meet European crash regulations.
Therefore, if Yianni was to ever get this vehicle on the road - which he aims to do by Christmas - he would need to cover up any unsafe edges with rubber.
All of these modifications are needed for the Cybertruck to pass its IVA (Individual Vehicle Approval) test. And as you can see, it’s been an uphill battle for Yianni so far.
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During one of his YouTube videos, the content creator asked a mechanic working on the modifications whether he believed there was a chance it would pass the IVA test in the future.
“What is your honest opinion on getting this past? Online people are saying ‘You’ve got no chance’,” he began.
“I have a history of importing cars and working with this kind of thing," the expert responded.
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“There’s two types of approvals you can get. There’s the type approval which the manufacturer has to do, and it’s a lot more stringent.
“IVA is not as stringent, you see. Everything is somewhat easier. So I reckon, if we can get all the lights working, they’ll register it.”
However, the mechanic did claim that it would take him around one or two weeks to complete the modifications.
So, it appears that Christmas day deadline is still is sight.. just.
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Stay glued to Yianni Charalambous’ YouTube channel for more updates on his Cybertruck ordeal.
Topics: Cybertruck , Social Media, Tesla, UK News, YouTube, Cars
Ella Scott