BUYING ANY CAR that hasn’t been safety tested is something of a risk, and unfortunately, there are a number of cars on sale in Australia that haven’t been subjected to ANCAP testing (or, in some cases, any of the overseas tests either).
One such, perhaps surprisingly, is the Tesla Model 3.
Electric vehicles, thanks to their heavy batteries usually mounted low down, are notoriously difficult to roll, but it can be done.
An owner reported on Reddit that his wife was travelling on a freeway in the US at 70mph (115km/h) in the left lane when she collided with another vehicle in the middle lane. (reprinted with permission – https://old.reddit.com/)
The front driver side of the Model 3 hit the cement median with sufficient force to tear off the front wheel. The car then slid sideways and started rolling, according to a witness, “several times” before finally coming to a stop upside down.
Several people stopped to assist. The driver’s side window rolled down without trouble and the door was able to be opened using the normal button release. The driver initially thought she was uninjured, but a hospital check revealed a compression fracture in one of her vertebrae. She also suffered several bruised, a small friction burn from the airbags and general soreness the following day.
As you can see from the photos, the cabin stayed intact with no major deformities the shattered windscreen and glass roof did not intrude upon the cabin.
Tesla hasn’t released safety rating for the Model 3 but claims safety is always its number one priority and like the Model S and Model X is aiming for a five-star NHTSA (US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) safety rating. The IIHS (US Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) is currently testing the Tesla Model 3 but hasn’t as yet released crash test results.
Oh, and since the Tesla qualified for tax credits in the US, the owner will be able to claim $7500 when she replaces her car.