The new Model S luxury sedans from Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) may have passed all previous four crash tests. However, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) says that it failed to meet the requirements of the fifth test, which apparently is the most demanding. That means the company failed to scoop the 2017 Top Safety Pick award, which was given to 43 other new car models. That was one of the more disappointing moments for the automaker.
So what exactly went wrong for the celebrated automaker?
Every car receiving the 2017 Top Safety Pick award from IIHS must receive first-rate grades on all five of IIHS’s crashworthiness tests. However, all those Model S cars built after October 2016 did not get through the fifth crashworthiness test. They managed a low rating on the small overlap front crash test.
A report from IIHS states that riding in a Tesla’s new Model S luxury sedans may not be as safe as many may tend to think. Part of the report reads, “Measurements from the dummy indicated that injuries to the head, along with the lower right leg, would be possible in a real-world crash of the same severity.”
The Institute also pointed out other minor safety lapses like headlight brightness and roof strength. Apparently, in 2016, the Model S was at No. 1 in safety rating for luxury cars. It obtained an overall score of 88.
What next for the Tesla?
The Model S has in the past received a 5-star safety ranking from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Thus the most recent rating may trigger the need for enhanced safety features. Tesla has already stated its commitment to deliver a new car to the Institute for retesting. The company explains that their desire is in making the world’s safest cars.
According to Tesla’s spokesperson, they are always developing updates and aggressively implementing changes into their production line. Thus the market should expect more. Meanwhile, Tesla’s stock was trading at $249.24 a fall of $2.69 or 1.07%.