Tesla Electric Cars 2013 News And Update: Elon Musk Won't Recall Model S Sedan Electric Cars After Fires
Three Tesla cars have gone up in flames in the last five weeks but company CEO Elon Musk shot down recall rumors this week and said that the headlines are making things sound worse than they really are.
"There's no reason for a recall," Musk said during a conference call. "If you read the headlines, it sounds like Teslas have a greater propensity to catch fires than other cars. In reality, nothing could be further from the truth."
Each of the cars that caught fire were involved in serious accidents that likely would have caused similar or worse results in a gasoline-powered car. In fact, the owner of a Tesla that caught fire on video after an accident said he would by another one, claiming the car protected him during the incident.
The main issue at hand directly affects the way Tesla Motors has been able to market itself after it achieved the highest safety rating by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The front page of the popular electric car company's website shows a picture of the Model S with "The Safest Car in America" written next to it.
According to CNN, Musk said that the Tesla Model S is five times less likely to catch fire than the typical gasoline car. "We have never had a serious injury or death in any of our cars. Maybe there is a car as safe as the Model S, but there is certainly not a car that is safer," he said.
The company also features the Model X, which is also electric and is a mix between an SUV and a van. The "Supercharger," which charges the car and allows for a battery swap to bring a full charge in less than 90 seconds, also is advertised as the company looks to get people accustomed to using a new kind of charging station.
The company's popularity stems around the fact that the cars are completely electric as opposed to other cars on the market that are only hybrid vehicles. Popular stars such as Ashton Kutcher have also helped the company grow in popularity; Kutcher bought a Tesla car and enjoyed it so much that he purchased stock in the company.
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