Tesla Has An Accident Problem, New Report Finds

In a recent study based on insurance claims, Tesla drivers have emerged with the highest accident rate among all auto brands, contradicting the company’s previous assertions about the safety of its vehicles. 

Despite Tesla’s past claims that its Autopilot safety features would result in a significantly lower crash rate compared to the industry average, the new report by LendingTree based on millions of insurance claims in the US, reveals that Tesla drivers experience a higher accident rate compared to drivers of other brands. 

Electrek notes that Tesla used to release an “Autopilot safety report,” tracking miles between accidents and comparing the crash rates of vehicles using Autopilot versus those without. However, the automaker ceased publishing this report last year, leading to a lack of recent data on its Autopilot and Full Self-Driving initiatives.

The publication also highlights a difference in methodology between Tesla’s reports and LendingTree’s tracking. While LendingTree used insurance claims filed from all types of crashes, which could include minor fender-benders, Tesla only reported accidents that “activated the airbags or other restraints.” 

It’s also unclear why Tesla has stopped publishing its Autopilot safety report, especially during a time of increased scrutiny for the feature.

Information for this story was found via Electrek, LendingTree, and the sources and companies mentioned. The author has no securities or affiliations related to the organizations discussed. Not a recommendation to buy or sell. Always do additional research and consult a professional before purchasing a security. The author holds no licenses.