Tesla Model S is NOT the Safest Car Ever, Say Feds
Always able to find itself at the center of controversy, Tesla’s latest PR stunt has earned it a slap on the wrist by a Federal safety agency.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has released a statement in rebuttal to Tesla‘s claim that the Model S is the safest car ever and that it earned a, “new combined record of 5.4 stars” according to a Tesla release.
SEE ALSO: Tesla Model S is the Safest Car… Ever
“The agency’s 5-Star Safety Ratings program is designed to provide consumers with information about the crash protection and rollover safety of new vehicles beyond what is required by Federal standards,” says the NHTSA release. “One star is the lowest rating; five stars is the highest. More stars equal safer cars.” The statement goes on to comment that the agency, “does not rate vehicles beyond 5 stars and does not rank or order vehicles within the star rating categories.”
That said, a 5-star rating for the Tesla Model S is equal to any other car with a rating of 5-stars, with another example being the Volvo S60.
In addition, the agency chides Tesla’s overzealous claims, commenting that it, “has guidelines in place for automakers and advertising agencies to follow, helping ensure that accurate information is portrayed to the public.”
Did Tesla follow those guidelines? It’s likely the electric automaker, its eccentric CEO, Elon Musk, and its clever PR department will find a way to chime-in.
Discuss this story at Tesla-Buzz.com
Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.
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Tesla is the safest car ever, or close to it. 4700 pounds for one thing, huge crumple zones for another and a rigid side.
From the third sentence of Tesla's Press Release: "NHTSA does not publish a star rating above 5, however safety levels better than 5 stars are captured in the overall Vehicle Safety Score (VSS) provided to manufacturers, where the Model S achieved a new combined record of 5.4 stars." The NHTSA states that the agency, does not rate vehicles beyond 5 stars and does not rank or order vehicles within the star rating categories. Which seems to simply reiterate Tesla's original statement that the "NHTSA does not publish a star rating above 5" Which is NOT the same as "Tesla Model S is NOT the Safest Car Ever, Say Feds" Tesla has published the raw data related to those tests and compared them to their competition. Something the NHTSA does not do beyond simply reporting stars. Where is the story/problem/controversy? Can I "Dis-Like" this page for blatantly trolling for story clicks?