Tesla electric vehicle safety investigation launched in South Korea
South Korea has launched an investigation into alleged vehicle safety issues by the American company Tesla, which is actively competing with Hyundai Motor in the country’s electric vehicle market.
A South Korean Ministry of Transport spokesman said Wednesday that an investigation will test the reliability of the braking and steering systems, as well as the autopilot function.
The ministry declined to provide any further details, but South Korean media reported that the Tesla Model 3 electric vehicle was under close scrutiny by the regulator. The investigation is expected to take six months to a year.
In turn, a spokesman for the South Korean division of Tesla said that the company intends to work closely with representatives of the regulatory authorities conducting the investigation.
Reuters recalled in this regard the accident that occurred with the Model S in California in January 2018. The US National Transportation Safety Board, following an investigation, then said that the cause of the accident was driver errors and problems with Tesla’s autopilot.
Last month has been a good one for Tesla in the South Korean EV market. Its Model 3 outpaced Hyundai’s Kona EV electric car, as well as premium BMW and Audi models.
