Tesla Cybertruck driver arrested after driving into lake to use 'wade mode', police say

A man has been arrested in Texas accused of intentionally driving his Tesla Cybertruck into a lake to use the vehicle's "wade mode" feature.

The Grapevine Police Department said its officers were called to Grapevine Lake in north Texas on Monday to recover the vehicle, which had been abandoned by the driver and passengers after it took on water and became stuck.

Wade mode allows a Cybertruck "to enter and drive through bodies of water, such as rivers or creeks" at a maximum depth of 81.5 cm (32 inches), according to Tesla's online manual.

The driver was arrested on charges of operating a vehicle in a closed section of the lake and for other water safety equipment violations, police said.

The partially-submerged vehicle was removed from near the shoreline of the south side of the lake, with the Grapevine Fire Department Water Rescue Team assisting police in the operation.

According to the police statement, "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".

Police added that "although a vehicle may be physically capable of entering shallow freshwater areas, doing so can create legal and safety concerns under Texas law".

"We wouldn't encourage willingly driving your vehicle into the water," said Katharina Gamboa of the Grapevine Police Department, in comments reported by the BBC's US news partner CBS News.

"You know, not only that, it's a safety concern, but it's also a legal concern as well," she said.

The Tesla Cybertruck is an electric pickup truck made of rocket-like, bullet-proof steel materials, and sells for upwards of $70,000 (£52,072). It was launched in 2019 and rolled out to the public in 2023.

Tesla states in its owner's manual for the vehicle that it is the driver's responsibility "to gauge the depth of any body of water before entering", adding that "damage or water ingress to Cybertruck as a result of driving in water is not covered by the warranty".

Tesla says the maximum wade depth of approximately 32 in (815 mm) is measured from the bottom of the tire. Where water becomes too deep, the manual advises drivers to return to more shallow water or dry land.

The manufacturer also warns not to drive in deep, fast-flowing bodies of water such as strong currents or rapids.