The Tesla Cybertruck may not be the most capable off-road vehicle (it’s on its way to being that), but Tesla is certainly intent on giving it as many bells and whistles as possible so it can emulate them.
One such accessory is the roof-mounted light bar. Tesla is finally getting ready to deliver the long-promised accessory to the Cybertruck — but you should know that you won’t be able to turn it on and shine your high beams at someone driving five miles below the speed limit once you’ve driven out of a parking spot. Tesla wants you to use it for off-road stuff, which is just one reason service technicians won’t plug the accessory in when you install it.
Tesla loves alternative solutions.
If there’s one automaker that likes to avoid red lines, it’s Tesla. From easily removable side mirrors to standard-spec cars with a range of just 94 miles, the Texas-based electric car maker knows how to use the word “technically.” And this light bar is the latest example of what’s technically legal on the road.
Now, while the automaker hasn’t delivered the accessory to Cybertrucks today, it is preparing to update trucks that have been waiting for it to be installed for months. Late last month, an email was sent to owners notifying them that their trucks were on a waiting list to receive the accessory.
Tesla also updated its Cybertruck service manual earlier this year to reflect the installation process for technicians performing the upgrade. However, there is an important note regarding what Tesla will — and explicitly won’t — do when installing the light bar. One of those things it won’t do is connect the light bar to the accessory harness that powers it.
From the Tesla Service Manual:
The Cybertruck’s Tesla light bar is designed for off-road use only. By law, Tesla cannot install light bar electronics and configure the vehicle to control the light bar.
(…)
Tesla employees are not permitted to connect or assist in connecting the Cybertruck Off-Road Lighting Package to the Roof Accessory Connection Kit. You are responsible for using these instructions to complete the Off-Road Lighting Package connection yourself.
Attaching the harness itself seems like a pretty easy process. Tesla designed the truck to quickly add accessories like a light bar to the factory harness. However, attaching it to the roof with urethane seems a bit more tedious than the customer-facing part of attaching the harness.
The automaker also requires technicians to install a roll of blackout film over the light bar lens. This ensures that the truck can’t illuminate the road even if the owner accidentally turns on the light bar from the touchscreen controls.
If not already installed, remove the protective cover from the provided blackout film strip and then install the blackout film strip onto the light bar.
The opaque film must be installed on the light bar before the vehicle is delivered to the customer. The opaque film may only be removed by the customer or a third party.
In practice, this Tesla workaround is like the removable mirrors on the Cybertruck. They’re easy to break, but that’s intentional. Owners should be able to remove them, as long as they don’t drive the car that way.
Some regulations, such as the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, require that lighting be mounted, positioned, and angled to meet specific standards for public road use. Dealerships must sell vehicles that meet these standards, or they will be subject to a recall — and Tesla can’t fix the light bar with a software update. Some states also require that off-road lights (lighting components that don’t meet the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards) be covered when driving on public roads.
However, truck owners are excited to have a new toy in their trucks. Now, let’s hope everyone uses it responsibly.
