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The Model 3 (pictured) has problems with the wiring harness, the Model S is threatened with frunk
Photo: TangKe / Barcroft Media via Getty Images
Do you know what a frunk is?
At least earlier Beetle drivers should have had their experiences with it: The English case word consists of the components front and trunk - and describes the space that is now in the front part of the car in the front of the car, but also in many electric cars offers.
For many Tesla Model S, this frunk is now causing serious problems: Almost 120,000 of them are recalled because of incorrect assembly of the frunk.
The errors could suddenly open up and obstruct the driver's view.
But that's not all: Model 3 from the US electric car manufacturer is even bigger.
Because of problems with the reversing camera, almost 360,000 of them are ordered to the workshops, according to a document from the US Vehicle Safety Authority (NHTSA).
The total number of recalled vehicles is almost half the number of cars Tesla produced last year.
The wiring harness of the reversing camera could be damaged by opening and closing the trunk lid and the reversing camera could fail. All Model 3 from model years 2017 to 2020 would therefore be recalled, the authority said. According to the NHTSA, Tesla is not aware of any accidents, injuries or deaths related to the problems.
The renewed recall at Tesla has a negative impact on the company's value on the stock exchange.
The shares lost around 1.1 percent before the IPO.
Most recently, Tesla voluntarily recalled almost 135,000 Model S and Model X vehicles for repair in the spring - due to screens that are prone to defects and that could endanger the driver's view.
In addition, in August, the NHTSA opened a formal safety investigation into Tesla's driver assistance system after a number of accidents involving Tesla models.
Woidke demands faster approval procedures
In Brandenburg, where Tesla wants to manufacture cars on a large scale in the future, there is at least small progress in the construction of the factory: According to the Brandenburg state government, Tesla submitted the missing documents for the approval process for the plant in Grünheide.
"At the end of the 50th calendar week (13-19 December), the outstanding documents and information were received, which form the basis for a decision on the Tesla application," said a spokesman for the Ministry of the Environment.
But there will probably not be a decision on the approval this year.
The documents would now be checked by the State Office for the Environment and the Lower Water Authority of the Oder-Spree district, the spokesman said.
"A date for the decision cannot therefore be given."
Tesla boss Elon Musk had hoped that the first cars in Grünheide could roll off the production lines in December 2021 at the latest.
Vehicles are already being produced there, but through internal tests.
According to Tesla, the start of mass production was always planned for 2022.
Brandenburg's Prime Minister Dietmar Woidke is asking for patience.
"I'm optimistic, but we mustn't stumble in the last few meters either," said the SPD politician, who basically insists on faster permits.
"We urgently need an acceleration of the approval process in the way that it was 30 years ago in the eastern German states," said Woidke.
"To this end, the duration of the procedures in the authorities and the number of legal instances to which one can lodge an objection to the projects must be clearly limited."
"If we now accept a 'business as usual' with the expansion of renewable energies, the construction of transmission networks and the expansion of rail connections, we will not be able to ensure climate neutrality and prosperity," said Woidke.
The SPD, the Greens and the FDP have agreed in the coalition agreement that the planning and approval process should be faster.
apr / Reuters / dpa