Rare sight in Bunnings car park stuns
Shoppers at an Aussie Bunnings had to do a double take after spotting a Tesla Cybertruck parked out the front on the weekend.
A Tesla Cybertruck has been spotted in Australia, taking up two parking spots outside a Bunnings store.
The photo was shared on Reddit, showing the highly sought-after vehicle from Elon Musk’s company in the car park of the Caloundra Bunnings on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast.
The futuristic electric “pick-up truck” was last on display in the Brisbane CBD last month, and at the Gold Coast 500 in October.
It was seen cruising around Sydney at the end of April as part of a publicity stunt for the opening of a new showroom at Rosebery in the city’s southeast.
Now, the sci-fi-looking vehicle, which has a left-hand-drive configuration, appears to be back and has popped up at the beloved hardware store.
It was positioned diagonally across two spots, given that it measures 5.6 metres long and 2.4 metres wide, making it impossible to fit into a standard parking space without jutting out.
To protect the front of the car, a temporary orange bollard was placed in front of it.
“Cybertruck needs 10 per cent more parking at Bunnings,” the original poster joked, referencing Bunnings’ “Beat it by 10 per cent” policy.
Commenters jumped on the lighthearted nature of the post.
One user wrote, “Wait, that’s not a BBQ,” while another said, “I thought it was one of those rent-a-skip-bin trailers.”
And many were surprised by the rare sighting, with one commenting, “Thought these weren’t road legal here?”
Another asked, “Wait, they’re allowed in Australia?”
Then one user pointed out, “Limited use plate by the looks of it.”
“I don’t understand how that would make any difference,” someone wrote back. “How does limited use suddenly make it okay? Aren’t the rules black and white?”
A vehicle registration check conducted by news.com.au revealed that the 2024 dual-cab truck is registered in Queensland until April 2025, with its purpose of use listed as “dealer”.
A spokesperson for Bunnings Australia confirmed to news.com.au that the vehicles were there as part of an activation for the store’s launch of electric vehicle chargers and accessories.
The range is currently being rolled out to 40 pilot stores across the country and will include wall-mounted EV chargers that can be installed in people’s homes.
One person in the Tesla Owners Australia Facebook Group shared, “We were there for the sausage sizzle that day and the Cybertruck drew a decent crowd. I heard one of the hype guys explain that they couldn’t open the windows or doors because the rain could damage the electronics.”
While some called it “fantastic” and “cool,” others described it as the “ugliest thing” they have ever seen and “a joke.”
Tesla wants to launch the Cybertruck in Australia but is facing regulatory hurdles because it does not comply with Australian design rules.
The Cybertruck, priced between $US81,895 ($A125,500) and $101,985 ($A156,000), is listed on the Australian Tesla website but is not yet available to order.
Currently, Aussie drivers can sign up for updates on the website but cannot place a deposit or order a vehicle.
Marketing it as “built for any planet”, Tesla describes the Cybertruck as “durable and rugged enough to go anywhere” and “able to tackle anything.”
The vehicle’s “armour glass can resist the impact of a baseball travelling at 112 km/h,” and its “acoustic glass helps make the cabin as quiet as outer space.”
When it was launched, Musk claimed that the truck is “a better truck than a truck and a better sports car than a sports car” and a “seemingly impossible” achievement.
“I think it’s our best product. I think it’s the most unique thing on the road. And finally, the future will look like the future,” Musk stated.