US Cops Float Idea of Cybertruck Police Vehicle: Elon Musk Responds

The uniquely designed Tesla Cybertruck recently hit the streets after overcoming prolonged development delays and manufacturing hurdles.

Amid the hype, Rosenberg Police in Texas publicly reached out to Tesla CEO Elon Musk with an intriguing proposition: could the newly launched Cybertruck serve as an effective police vehicle? The tech mogul's response ignited excitement across the internet.

The official Rosenberg Police X (formerly Twitter) account posted two pictures of the Cybertruck in action along with a message for Elon Musk.

"Spotted out in the wild. What do you think, @elonmusk? Will the #Cybertruck make a good police vehicle? It's still hard to find new vehicles to replenish our older police units. Should we make the change in 2024?"

Elon Musk, in turn, expressed his endorsement with a "100" emoji, symbolizing complete agreement with the idea.

Netizens Push for Cybertruck as Police Patrol Vehicles

Since the post went live, it has caught widespread attention and fueled discussions across various online platforms, according to NDTV. Thousands of Enthusiastic users on social media shared their excitement about the prospect of cybertrucks being deployed in law enforcement roles.

One user remarked, "That light bar with police lights would look amazing, and who doesn't need bullet-resistant doors?" Another suggestion was that police departments worldwide were considering the adoption of Tesla Cybertrucks to enhance their fleets.

This Tesla Cybertruck news comes days after the first reported Cybertruck road accident happened. The California Highway Patrol reported that a 2023 Tesla Cybertruck and a 2009 Toyota Corolla were involved in the accident; however, there were no serious injuries.

"Our preliminary investigation indicates a Toyota Corolla was traveling south on SR-35 southbound, south of Page Mill Road, at an unknown speed, when the driver, for unknown reasons, turned to the right and subsequently struck a dirt embankment on the right shoulder.

The Toyota then re-entered the roadway, crossed over the double yellow lines into the northbound lane, and crashed into a Tesla Cybertruck traveling north on SR-35 northbound," the California Highway Patrol stated, as quoted by The Verge.

The Corolla's front end is severely damaged in the photos posted online.

Tesla Cybertruck's IRA Tax Credit Eligibility

In a separate development, Tesla posted an update on its website informing buyers of their vehicles' new IRA eligibility. The Cybertruck and two Model 3 models were the only automobiles eligible for the full $7,500 EV tax credit under the IRA. Since January 1, 2023, the Model 3 RWD and LR no longer qualify for these credits, but Tesla did not explain their ineligibility.

According to Teslarati, recent rules from the IRS about foreign organizations of concern (FEOC) might change which cars can get IRA tax credits. EVs with parts from FEOC countries, like China, Russia, and North Korea, may not be able to compete.

The IRS says that for some types of vehicles, an EV must have a manufacturer-suggested retail price (MSRP) below $80,000 in order to be qualified. It will take time to determine if the Cybertruck's All-Wheel Drive (AWD) and Rear-Wheel Drive (RWD) models will be listed among the cars that qualify for the IRA.