A man has been arrested in Grapevine, Texas, for allegedly driving his Tesla Cybertruck into a lake on purpose to test the vehicle's "Wade Mode" feature. The Grapevine Police Department responded on Monday to recover the abandoned vehicle from Grapevine Lake.

The driver and passengers reportedly fled after the truck took on water and became stuck. According to Tesla's online manual, Wade Mode allows the Cybertruck to drive through bodies of water up to 32 inches (81.5 cm) deep.

The driver was charged with operating a vehicle in a closed section of the lake and violating water safety equipment regulations. The Grapevine Fire Department Water Rescue Team assisted in removing the partially submerged vehicle from the shoreline.

Police stated that "the driver stated he intentionally drove into the lake to use the Cybertruck's 'Wade Mode' feature," after which "the vehicle became disabled and took on water."

Authorities warned that even if a vehicle is physically capable of entering shallow water, doing so can pose legal and safety risks under Texas law. "We wouldn't encourage willingly driving your vehicle into the water," said Katharina Gamboa of the Grapevine Police Department. "It's a safety concern, but it's also a legal concern as well."

The Tesla Cybertruck, an electric pickup made of bulletproof steel, was launched in 2019 and released to the public in 2023. Tesla's manual states that drivers must gauge water depth before entering and that water damage is not covered by warranty. The maximum wade depth is approximately 32 inches (815 mm) from the bottom of the tire.

Source: www.bbc.com