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Elon Musk Shares Secret About CyberTruck Mirrors

By Sarah Chen
1 min read
Elon Musk Tesla
Elon Musk Tesla
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When the CyberTruck was unveiled for the first time in 2019 it had these cameras which doubled as side-view mirrors. But at the time many believed that the regulators aren’t going to allow Tesla to pull off this stunt. So more recently, the car was indeed seen with mirrors. But these mirrors ruin the seamless symmetry and the cyberpunk futurism of the car. Now, in a tweet, Elon Musk has revealed that the mirror is required by the law but they have been designed in such a way that they can be removed easily by the owners.

The side-view mirrors are a requirement of the US Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard referred to as Rear Visibility. The side mirrors assure that the driver has a good view of obstacles around the sides and the rear of the truck.

Tesla strived to remove the mirrors altogether as modern cars also come with blindspot detection cameras as well as rearview cameras which help in reversing. Tesla has always future-proofed its cars with advanced hardware and constant software updates and if and when the regulation is changed Tesla has added the ability for its owners to remove the mirror as the cameras are already baked in.

Tesla’s vehicles also come with advanced autonomous capability and the Cybertruck will be the first car it releases that will come with a new generation of self-driving chips and cameras. In other words, these cars by the time they come out in 2022 will have the latest hardware and software and an old-school solution like side-view mirrors will be hugely redundant.

Questions & Answers

Q.

Why does the CyberTruck, despite its advanced features, still have traditional side-view mirrors?

A.

Side-view mirrors are required by the US Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard for Rear Visibility. This regulation ensures the driver has a clear view of obstacles around the sides and rear, despite the car's blindspot detection and rearview cameras.

Q.

What is the reason behind the mirrors being designed for easy removal by CyberTruck owners?

A.

Elon Musk revealed the mirrors are legally required but designed for easy removal. Tesla included this ability so owners can take them off if regulations change, as the built-in cameras already provide rear visibility and the vehicle has advanced autonomous capabilities.

Q.

When was the CyberTruck initially unveiled, and how did its original design differ regarding side-view mirrors?

A.

The CyberTruck was first unveiled in 2019. Its original design featured cameras that also functioned as side-view mirrors, which many observers at the time believed regulators would not permit. This initial design did not include traditional mirrors.

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