Tesla's top model "S Plaid" catches fire

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Tesla: The new top model "S Plaid" has been delivered since June

Photo: Lucas Jackson / REUTERS

The US electric car manufacturer Tesla delivered a total of 206,421 vehicles in the second quarter. That is more than ever before in a three-month period. Tesla exceeded Wall Street's expectations, because Tesla boss Elon Musk had warned just a few weeks ago of difficulties due to the shortage of computer chips. Deliveries of the older S and X models fell to 1,890 vehicles between April and June. In contrast, deliveries of the Tesla Model Y in China have increased significantly. In addition, in June Tesla launched the Model S Plaid, a new top model, whose starting price is around 130,000 US dollars and promises significantly higher profit margins than the mass model "Model 3".

However, there is also excitement about the new top model: According to a lawyer, a recently delivered vehicle "S Plaid" went up in flames.

The driver, a company boss, could only use force to escape from the burning vehicle because the electric door lock blocked, his lawyer Mark Geragos said on Friday.

The car caught fire shortly after rolling in a residential area in Pennsylvania.

"That was a gruesome and appalling experience," said Geragos.

Tesla did not comment immediately on request, the causes of the fire are unclear.

The top model S Plaid is supposed to keep the Porsche Taycan at a distance

The latest luxury car from the US electric car pioneer has only been delivered since June. With prices starting at the equivalent of 109,000 euros and rapid acceleration, S Plaid competes with the Porsche Taycan, for example. 1000 copies should roll off the line every week. The top model is not the number, but important for the Californians as an image bearer. Because with the growing competition, Tesla has to fight harder to ensure that customers do not switch to other brands, said Ed Kim, industry expert from AutoPacific, at the world premiere in mid-June. Tesla boss Elon Musk had touted the model at the launch in its well-known casual way. The car would be awesome, the greatest in every way. Because it proves that an emission-free car can be the fastest and safest. Model S plaid be "faster than any Porsche and safer than any Volvo. "The development of the battery was more complex because of safety issues.

The case is now being investigated, the lawyer said. He asked Tesla to take the model off the market until the causes of the fire were clear. The US traffic safety agency NHTSA said it would investigate the case and intervene if the public needed to be protected. The agency has already checked around two dozen accidents, some of them fatal, of Tesla drivers due to the automated driving function.