Consumer Reports may have saved lives – and Tesla – on Monday. The magazine’s review of the Tesla Model 3 was released and it quickly went viral. The review was a public-relations disaster for Tesla. Consumer Reports exposed a dangerous condition and saved Tesla from a worse outcome.
Tesla simply cannot handle more bad news.
Tesla’s recent problems have been well-publicized. The company is stuck in production-hell with the Model 3. Despite much effort, Tesla cannot ramp-up production to satisfy high demand (and to honor long wait-lists). Every tweet by Tesla-founder Elon Musk is analyzed for news. Consumers and investors alike have grown impatient.
Yesterday, Tesla was an additional blow by Consumer Reports. The influential magazine failed to recommend the Model 3. That decision was a rare move by Consumer Reports. Similar decisions have been made in only exceptional cases. The Tesla tested just THAT bad.
The CR review explained: “Our testers . . . found flaws – big flaws – such as long stopping distances in our emergency braking test and difficult to use controls.” The review added: “The Tesla’s stopping distance of 152 feet from 60 mph was far worse than any contemporary car we’ve tested and about 7 feet longer than the stopping distance of a Ford F-150 full-sized pickup.”
Teslas should NEVER be unfavorably compared to Ford pickups.
Consumer Reports has stood by its testing results. In fact, the company conducted further testing on a second Model 3. Testing results were consistent.
To his credit, Elon Musk responded quickly. He acknowledged the braking system DOES have a problem. He claimed a simple “firmware update” can fix the braking issue. The problem, according to Musk, would be rapidly resolved. Tesla can make the fix using unusual “over-the-air” software updates, according to Reuters.
CBS News reports Consumers Reports praised Tesla for addressing the problem. Consumer Reports will re-test the Model 3 once the problems are fully resolved.
Excellent post!
I would avoid those cars, period.