A Tesla Model S electric car caught fire this week after crashing south of Seattle — combining with an analyst’s downgrade to contribute to a 6 percent decline in the company’s shares today. The crash took place in Kent, Wash.
Officials with Tesla provided this statement to the Jalopnik automotive news site.
“Yesterday, a Model S collided with a large metallic object in the middle of the road, causing significant damage to the vehicle. The car’s alert system signaled a problem and instructed the driver to pull over safely, which he did. No one was injured, and the sole occupant had sufficient time to exit the vehicle safely and call the authorities. Subsequently, a fire caused by the substantial damage sustained during the collision was contained to the front of the vehicle thanks to the design and construction of the vehicle and battery pack. All indications are that the fire never entered the interior cabin of the car. It was extinguished on-site by the fire department.”
The Associated Press notes that the Model S has received a top top crash-test score from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The company has touted the car as the safest in the country. Here’s a video of the aftermath of the crash from YouTube.